CURRENT EVENTS (RECIENTES ACONTECIMIENTOS)

Peace on the Korean Peninsula?

Let’s hope so.

The leaders of North and South Korea agreed on Friday to pursue a permanent peace treaty and the complete denuclearization of their divided peninsula at a historic summit laden with symbolism.

The North’s leader Kim Jong Un and the South’s President Moon Jae-in embraced after signing what they called the Panmunjom Declaration, following a day that began with an emotional handshake over the Military Demarcation Line that splits their countries.

The pair issued a statement confirming their “common goal of realising, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean peninsula”.

They agreed they would seek a permanent end to the Korean War this year, 65 years after hostilities ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

(Source: Sunghee Hwang, APF)

PHYSICAL TRAITS (RASGOS FÍSICOS)

Honor Thy Temple (Honra Tu Templo)

APF Raw Powerlifting Nationals

in Orlando, FL

I’m headed to Orlando this week to see if I can become a member of Team USA and represent the USA in the November World Powerlifting Congress world contest.

CHARACTER TRAITS (RASGOS DE CARÁCTER)

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

SOCIAL TRAITS (RASGOS SOCIALES)

LEARNING TRAITS

(CARACTERÍSTICAS DE APRENDIZAJE)

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

(El Crecimiento te Mantiene Extraordinario)

MISCELLANEOUS (VARIADO)

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

(Las Probabilidades y Los Fines de Ser Extraordinarios)

BOOK OF THE WEEK (LIBRO DE LA SEMANA)

I recently read this book and it is in my opinion so much more than just than just a yoga book.  I think this book definitely lives up to the words on the cover, “Stretching your yoga from your mat to your life.”

Whether you are into yoga, or just thinking about taking a yoga class, you really should pick up a copy of this book.

The book is as wonderful as Andrea Marcum is wonderful.

Close to Om

by Andrea Marcum

Andrea Marcum’s Close to Om is a beautifully illustrated, practical and philosophical, yoga book that promotes and teaches mindfulness in both your yoga practice and your everyday life. (Source: Goodreads)

MOVIES OF THE WEEK (PELÍCULAS DE LA SEMANA)

Who doesn’t like movies, still I like to encourage folks to give plays a chance, just to see if you like them.  I thought this one was a very good and fast-moving musical.

All Night Strut!

Meadow Brook Theater, Rochester, MI

The All Night Strut! moves through the Depression, WWII and the post-war boom in a two-act musical celebration of the 1930s and ‘40s, filled with jazz, blues, and American songbook standards.

 

And the play was even better because we had the opportunity to see it with our good friends Sharon and Freddy.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK (MÚSICA DE LA SEMANA)

Shake It Up

By The Cars

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Modern Slave?

 

ART OF THE WEEK (ARTE DE LA SEMANA)

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

(PERSONA EXTRAORDINARIA DE LA SEMANA)

Ken Shelton

Ken died two years ago on April 28.  If you ever met him, you would know why I consider him one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met.  I met him in 1981 and we became friends immediately.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE (BROMA DE LA SEMANA)

This is only funny, if you know something about math.

TALK TO ME (HÁBLAME)

Thank you Angela, Nanette & Samantha, for commenting on last week’s post. 

BLOG & FACEBOOK

And my thanks to Jazmin, Raymond, Tintins, Write to Tell magazine & Yanibel, who started following my blog.  

And thank you Kimberly & Sandi, for liking my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page.

And thank you Barb, Kelly & Kristie, for sharing my FB post.

BOOK (LIBRO)

Warning:  This book will not change your life, only you can do that.

CURRENT EVENTS (RECIENTES ACONTECIMIENTOS)

Barbara Bush

June 8, 1925 – April 17, 2018

You can argue yourself blue in the face, and you’re not going to change each other’s minds.

I hate the fact that people think ‘compromise’ is a dirty word.

Future of this nation does not depend on what happens at the White House, but what happens at your house

PHYSICAL TRAITS (RASGOS FÍSICOS)

Honor Thy Temple (Honra Tu Templo)

Desiree Linden

Over the past 11 years, Desiree Linden has started 15 marathons, finished 14 of them, and come in second three times. But until today, she had never broken the tape.

That’s despite some close calls, most notably at the Boston Marathon in 2011, when she came within 2 seconds of taking the crown. With each near miss, her desire to win only grew, as did her legions of fans, who commiserated with her struggle every time she came close again.

It all changed today. On one of the worst weather days in Boston Marathon history—freakish driving rain, headwinds gusting to 30 miles per hour, and temperatures in the 30s, it was the 5-foot-1, 96-pound Linden who stood up to the conditions and prevailed down Boylston Street. Only as she celebrated did she take off the long-sleeved wind jacket she wore for the entire 26.2 miles, bib number pinned vertically along one side. (Source: Runner’s World)

CHARACTER TRAITS (RASGOS DE CARÁCTER)

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

SOCIAL TRAITS (RASGOS SOCIALES)

If we keep things in perspective, it may help us to get along with one another.

LEARNING TRAITS

(CARACTERÍSTICAS DE APRENDIZAJE)

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

(El Crecimiento te Mantiene Extraordinario)

The enemy of the best idea or act, isn’t a bad idea.

Strangely enough, it is the good idea or act.

Give the following some thought, if it isn’t readily apparent.

MISCELLANEOUS (VARIADO)

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

(Las Probabilidades y Los Fines de Ser Extraordinarios)

BOOK OF THE WEEK (LIBRO DE LA SEMANA)

If you are part Celt, as am I; you will love this book.  Lots and lots of photos too.

A Dark History: Celts

by Martin J. Dougherty

Barbarians or civilized peoples? Uncultured savages or fearsome warriors? The Celts have long been a subject of enormous interest, speculation, and misunderstanding. Before the Vikings, before the Anglo-Saxons, before the Roman Empire, the Celts dominated central and western Europe, but who exactly were the Celts and how have our perceptions of them changed throughout history? (Source: Amazon)

MOVIES OF THE WEEK (PELÍCULAS DE LA SEMANA)

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

I regret just recently watching this film, although I knew about it when it first came out.  It stars one of my favorite Mexican actors, Gael Garcia Bernal.  It is in Spanish, with English subtitles.  I don’t think the film would be anywhere near as meaningful, if the actors spoke English–actually, it would be a bit of a joke if they did.  I did watch a minute or two of the actors speaking French and that was just sad.

I found it interesting that the trip took them through a number of places in Perú that Carol and I had visited.

Critics Consensus: The Motorcycle Diaries is heartfelt and profound in its rendering of the formative experiences that turn Ernesto “Che” Guerva into a famous revolutionary. (Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

Ben-Hur (2016)

I thought this version of Ben-Hur wasn’t as good as the beginning of the original film, but was better than the end of the original film.  For two films based upon the same book, they are very different.

Critics Consensus: How do you fight an idea? By filming a remake that has too few of its own, and tries to cover it up with choppy editing and CGI. (Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK (MÚSICA DE LA SEMANA)

I can recall all the events pictured in the video that goes with this marvelous song by the great Sam Cooke.

What a Wonderful World

By Sam Cooke

LAST WEEK’S POLL – How to cut toast?

 

ART OF THE WEEK (ARTE DE LA SEMANA)

Here are some amazing wind sculptures

from the Wiford Gallery, Santa Fe

wilfordgallery.com

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

(PERSONA EXTRAORDINARIA DE LA SEMANA)

This week, I just could not decide who should be the most extraordinary person, so I did some searches on cool people. Well, when you do a search like that, you get some strange results.  I finally went with this guy, because the site listed out why they thought he was so cool and I found the reasons interesting.

Benjamin Franklin

• Revolutionary
• Co-signer and contributor to the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and The Treaty of Paris.
• inventor
• Scientist
• Diplomat
• Statesman
• Journalist
• Humorist
• Babe Magnet
• Self-taught intellectual
• Philanthropist
• International  celebrity–or least the late 1700’s version of it
• Master marketer – his coonskin hat was a marketing ploy
• Abolitionist and first president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery
• Early spy master
• Disney star

THIS WEEK’S JOKE (BROMA DE LA SEMANA)

This is only funny, if you know cats.

TALK TO ME (HÁBLAME)

Thank you America on Coffee, Coach Jo, Melissa & Penney, for commenting on last week’s post. 

BLOG & FACEBOOK

And my thanks to Anushka, John, Missteriouso, Nicole, Priya, Thought for Change & Ushma, who started following my blog.  

And thank you Camelia, Lynn & Terry for liking my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page.

And thank you Brian, Carol, Debra, Deborah, Denise, Donna, Doug, Qaz, Sandy, Stephen, Tammy & Tim, for sharing my FB post.

BOOK (LIBRO)

Warning:  This book will not change your life, only you can do that.

CURRENT EVENTS (RECIENTES ACONTECIMIENTOS)

La Fonda

No, not this Fonda

But this Fonda

La Fonda on the Plaza is a historical luxury hotel, at 100 E. San Francisco Street and Old Santa Fe Trail in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico next to the Plaza. La Fondasimply means “the inn” in Spanish, but the hotel has been described as “the grand dame of Santa Fe’s hotels.” (Source: Wikipedia)

PHYSICAL TRAITS (RASGOS FÍSICOS)

Honor Thy Temple (Honra Tu Templo)

CHARACTER TRAITS (RASGOS DE CARÁCTER)

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

SOCIAL TRAITS (RASGOS SOCIALES)

LEARNING TRAITS

(CARACTERÍSTICAS DE APRENDIZAJE)

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

(El Crecimiento te Mantiene Extraordinario)

It is important to visit new places.

Here I am driving around in Santa Fe, New Mexico

MISCELLANEOUS (VARIADO)

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

(Las Probabilidades y Los Fines de Ser Extraordinarios)

BOOK OF THE WEEK (LIBRO DE LA SEMANA)

I was touring the Governors Place in Santa Fe and was surprised to learn that a book I read many years ago, Ben Hur, was written there at the Governors Place.

It is a rather long book, so you may want to watch the movie before or instead of trying to read the book.

Ben Hur

by Lew Wallace

MOVIES OF THE WEEK (PELÍCULAS DE LA SEMANA)

Ben Hur (1959)

I saw this film so long ago, I can’t recall much about it.  Perhaps,  it may be worth taking another look at it; at least before you attempt to tackle the book.

Critics Consensus: Uneven, but in terms of epic scope and grand spectacle, Ben-Hur still ranks among Hollywood’s finest examples of pure entertainment. (Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK (MÚSICA DE LA SEMANA)

The Middle

By Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Truth?

Do you believe Thomas Sowell’s statement about truth is

 

ART OF THE WEEK (ARTE DE LA SEMANA)

Anything can be art, even bread.

  

EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

(PERSONA EXTRAORDINARIA DE LA SEMANA)

Buffalo Soldiers

THIS WEEK’S JOKE (BROMA DE LA SEMANA)

TALK TO ME (HÁBLAME)

Thank you America on Coffee, Bernice, Darlene, Judy & Samantha, for commenting on last week’s post. 

BLOG & FACEBOOK

And my thanks to Poonam & RCK25, who started following my blog.  

And thank you Angela, Barbara, David & Linda, for liking my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page.

And thank you Aaron, Debra, Erika, Gabrielle, Lana, Lisa & Nalomy, for sharing my FB post.

BOOK (LIBRO)

Warning:  This book will not change your life, only you can do that.

CURRENT EVENTS (RECIENTES ACONTECIMIENTOS)

This Story May or May Not Be True

The Apollo 11 astronauts, who were training in one of the remote deserts of the western USA, came across a Native American.

The Native American asked the astronauts what they were doing and they replied that they were training for a mission to go to the moon.

The Native American asked the astronauts if they would do him a favor.  He said his people believed that holy spirits lived on the moon and would the astronauts pass on a message from his people in their native language to the holy spirits that lived on the moon.

The astronauts memorized the Native American’s words, but the Indian would not tell them what the words meant, when they asked him. 

When the astronauts returned to their base, they found a translator who could tell them the meaning of the words they had memorized.  The translator said the memorized words were.

Don’t believe a single word these people are telling you.

They have come to steal your land.

(Source: Sapiens – A Brief History of Mankind)

PHYSICAL TRAITS (RASGOS FÍSICOS)

Honor Thy Temple (Honra Tu Templo)

Learn to accept your flaws, they make you unique.

CHARACTER TRAITS (RASGOS DE CARÁCTER)

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

SOCIAL TRAITS (RASGOS SOCIALES)

LEARNING TRAITS

(CARACTERÍSTICAS DE APRENDIZAJE)

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

(El Crecimiento te Mantiene Extraordinario)

Don’t believe everything you read.

MISCELLANEOUS (VARIADO)

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

(Las Probabilidades y Los Fines de Ser Extraordinarios)

BOOK OF THE WEEK (LIBRO DE LA SEMANA)

Bill Gates suggested to me and 1 million of his other closes friends, that I read this book.  I’m not going to suggest you read or not read this book.  But you should know first off, it isn’t brief.  Also, I believe regardless of what your positions are, you may find some of the author’s assessments and predictions disturbing.  I did really enjoy reading the early part of the book about pre-history, but as time went on the author and I had to part ways.  Still, the book has many important things to say, so if you do try to tackle this book, you may want to read some of it and skim some of it.

Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind

by Yuval Noah Harari

Human history has been shaped by three major revolutions: the Cognitive Revolution (70,000 years ago), the Agricultural Revolution (10,000 years ago), and the Scientific Revolution (500 years ago). These revolutions have empowered humans to do something no other form of life has done, which is to create and connect around ideas that do not physically exist (think religion, capitalism, and politics). These shared “myths” have enabled humans to take over the globe and have put humankind on the verge of overcoming the forces of natural selection. (Source: Amazon)

MOVIES OF THE WEEK (PELÍCULAS DE LA SEMANA)

Surviving Desire

This film is way cooler than the reviews make it appear.  In fact, it is so cool that I cannot even describe it, so I will show you a clip.  Of course, most of you will not like it.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK (MÚSICA DE LA SEMANA)

Walk Like an Egyptian

By The Bangles

But when it comes to walking like an Egyptian, check this out

King Tut

By SNL – Steve Martin

LAST WEEK’S POLL – What do you do at parties?

 THIS WEEK’S POLL – Truth?

 

ART OF THE WEEK (ARTE DE LA SEMANA)

Here is something to think about.

I found this in Part One – The Cognitive Revolutions

of 

Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind.

EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

(PERSONA EXTRAORDINARIA DE LA SEMANA)

Cleopatra

Actually, the above picture is Elizabeth Taylor, portraying Cleopatra 

Cleopatra VII (69 – August 10 or 12, 30 BC) was a queen and last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. She was also a diplomat, naval commander, administrator, linguist, and medical author.

As a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was a descendant of its founder Ptolemy I, a Macedonian Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great.

After the death of Cleopatra, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, marking the end of the Hellenistic period that had lasted since the reign of Alexander (336–323 BC). (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE (BROMA DE LA SEMANA)

TALK TO ME (HÁBLAME)

Thank you Carol, Darlene, Poetic Bells, Reocochran & Roijoyeux, for commenting on last week’s post. 

BLOG & FACEBOOK

And my thanks to LA Feedback Film Festival, Melissa, Nanette, Nick, Nidhi, Poetic Bells, Reocochran & Shreya, who started following my blog.  

And thank you Amy, Barbie, Michelle & Taylor, for liking my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page.

And thank you Carol, Cindi, Colleen, Darlene, Donna, Kristie, Patty, Richard & Trina, for sharing my FB post.

BOOK (LIBRO)

Warning:  This book will not change your life, only you can do that.

CURRENT EVENTS (RECIENTES ACONTECIMIENTOS)

Happy Easter 

I know, Easter was yesterday.

PHYSICAL TRAITS (RASGOS FÍSICOS)

Honor Thy Temple (Honra Tu Templo)

I can never say it enough times. No matter how much you exercise,

food is always going to trump exercise.

CHARACTER TRAITS (RASGOS DE CARÁCTER)

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

SOCIAL TRAITS (RASGOS SOCIALES)

There is a cliché that says, “Birds of a feather flock together.”  

Like it or not, you are going to be judged by the company you keep.

LEARNING TRAITS

(CARACTERÍSTICAS DE APRENDIZAJE)

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

(El Crecimiento te Mantiene Extraordinario)

The following was for people between 65 and death,

but maybe others might find it useful

It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it.  Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or foolproof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

MISCELLANEOUS (VARIADO)

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

(Las Probabilidades y Los Fines de Ser Extraordinarios)

BOOK OF THE WEEK (LIBRO DE LA SEMANA)

If you are going to see the play, Hamilton, I strongly suggest you read this book first.  And if you are just looking for good advice on all the aspects of life, other than dueling, you will find this book most helpful.  And like most of the books I read and recommend, it is definitely an easy read.  

Alexander Hamilton’s Guide to Life

by Jeff Wilser

Two centuries after his death, Alexander Hamilton is headline news again.

He is one of the most compelling of America’s Founding Fathers, an orphan who came to America with little but ambition. He went on to become a General in the Revolutionary War, created the US’s financial system and is immortalised on the $10 bill.

Hamilton’s life is fascinating, and it can serve as an example to us all. For anyone interested in success, romance, money, honour or duelling Hamilton has worthwhile advice.

Combining biography and history with humour, this is advice that has survived for over three hundred years:

Alexander Hamilton is the subject of one of Broadway’s most popular musical ‘Hamilton’. (Source: Goodreads.com)

MOVIES OF THE WEEK (PELÍCULAS DE LA SEMANA)

Bendito Infierno or Don’t Tempt Me (2001)

I think this film is very entertaining and thought provoking.  You can watch it is Spanish with English subtitles or get the English version Don’t Tempt Me.

         

Don’t Tempt Me (Spanish: Bendito Infierno, also known as Sin noticias de Dios in Spanish and No News From God in English) is a 2001 Mexican and Spanish co-production comedy film. The screenplay for the film was written especially for Penélope Cruz and Victoria Abril by the award-winning Spanish writer and director Agustín Díaz Yanes . (Source: Wikipedia)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK (MÚSICA DE LA SEMANA)

Operator (1972)

By Jim Croce

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Do you think Oscar Wilde was correct?

 THIS WEEK’S POLL – What do you do at parties?

Before we start the poll, here is some more advice for people between 65 and death, that may be useful to younger people.

Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations.  Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, etc.  Try to go.  Get out of the house, meet people you have seen in a while or even people you have never met before.

 

ART OF THE WEEK (ARTE DE LA SEMANA)

Fabergé Eggs

I have not yet seen a Fabergé Egg, but I suspect I will within a few years.

The Moscow Kremlin egg, 1906.

A Fabergé egg is a jeweled egg created by the House of Fabergé. Virtually all were manufactured under the supervision of Peter Carl Fabergé between 1885 and 1917. 

The most famous are those made for the Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II as Easter gifts for their wives and mothers. The House of Fabergé made 50 such “Imperial” Easter eggs, of which 43 are still existing. Two planned for Easter 1917 were not delivered due to the Russian Revolution in which the Romanov Dynasty was overthrown and all the members of the imperial family executed. (Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

(PERSONA EXTRAORDINARIA DE LA SEMANA)

Easter Bunny

A 1907 postcard featuring the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny (also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare) is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter, depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs. Originating among German Lutherans, the “Easter Hare” originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient.

In legend, the Easter Bunny carries colored eggs in his basket, candy, and sometimes also toys to the homes of children, and as such shows similarities to Santa Claus, as they both bring gifts to children on the night before their respective holidays. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE (BROMA DE LA SEMANA)

TALK TO ME (HÁBLAME)

Thank you Samantha, for commenting on last week’s post. 

BLOG & FACEBOOK

And my thanks to Eliza, Empowered Every Day &  Parkashpencia, who started following my blog.  

And thank you Jenny, Jessica & Rachael, for liking my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page.

And thank you Carol, Donna & Patty, for sharing my FB post.

BOOK (LIBRO)

Warning:  This book will not change your life, only you can do that.