CURRENT EVENTS

Since my last day of work, December 31, 2009,  I have just been sliding through life as you can see.

It is my hope that this blog will in some small way, help you also slide through life.

BOOKS OF THE WEEK

When Paris Sizzled

By Mary McAuliffe

Overall, this is not an easy book to read. Unless you are familiar with many of the people below, I think you would be better served by watching the film Midnight in Paris. However, if you are familiar with the majority of people mention in this book, you may find after reading this book you will know much more about this period in history.

When Paris Sizzled vividly portrays the City of Light during the fabulous 1920s, that saw seismic change on almost every front, from art and architecture to music, literature, fashion, entertainment, transportation, and, most notably, behavior.

Major figures on the Paris scene—such as Gertrude Stein, Jean Cocteau, Picasso, Stravinsky, Diaghilev, and Proust—continued to hold sway, while others now came to prominence—including Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Cole Porter, and Josephine Baker, as well as André Citroën, Le Corbusier, Man Ray, Sylvia Beach, James Joyce, and the irrepressible Kiki of Montparnasse.

MOVIES OF THE WEEK

At times a touching film, but with enough comedy to keep it from being a real tear jerker.

Instant Family (2018)

Adopting three foster children at once thinking that it’s a perfect way to start a family, Pete and Ellie fail to consider that their new charges may be hellions — which they are. Not only do the kids flout the rules, they see no reason for parents.

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

I have no idea how many times I have watched this film, but it is still one of the funniest films I have ever seen.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Love Shack

By The B-52’s

ART OF THE WEEK

Family photos are a common tradition and I believe practically all of you have had one or more of them taken over the years. My family certainly isn’t large, but I think the artist, Lindsey; has done an excellent job of capturing our inner uniqueness far more than any photographer could.  Below is me, Bear and Carol.

Thank you Lindsey

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Mike

Mike was one of the most fun people I have ever encountered. We were friends in high school. I went into the Army after high school and Mike went into the Navy. The world was a much different place when we got out of the service and we hung out together in the late 1960 and early 1970s. It was an interesting time and we did a lot of interesting things.

I think the character Steve Martin played in the film My Blue Heaven captures Mike’s fun-loving personality. After I watched this film, I telephoned Mike and told him that I had just seen him in this film.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Every woman should learn to iron.

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS 

LEARNING TRAITS

I believe many of you have had a hard time trying to figure out how to fold a fitted sheet. I hope this helps.

MISCELLANEOUS

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

CURRENT EVENTS

What a terrible tragedy to this 850-year-old Paris landmark. I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited this historical site years ago as one of the many millions who visit Notre Dame de Paris each year.

Notre Dame Cathedral Fire

Notre Dame’s Spire

Spire on Fire

Notre-Dame de Paris is a medieval Catholic cathedral in Paris, France. The cathedral is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Its innovative use of the rib vault and flying buttress, its enormous and colourful rose windows, and the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration set it apart from the earlier Romanesque style.

The cathedral was begun in 1160 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely complete by 1260, though it was modified frequently in the following centuries. In the 1790s, Notre-Dame suffered desecration during the French Revolution; much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed.

In 1804, the cathedral was the site of the Coronation of Napoleon I as Emperor of France. Popular interest in the cathedral blossomed soon after the publication, in 1831, of Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. This led to a major restoration project between 1844 and 1864, supervised by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who added the cathedral’s iconic spire.

The cathedral is one of the most widely recognized symbols of the city of Paris and the French nation. Approximately 12 million people visit Notre-Dame annually, making it the most visited monument in Paris.

While undergoing renovation and restoration, the roof of Notre-Dame caught fire on the evening of 15 April 2019. Burning for around 15 hours, the cathedral sustained serious damage, including the destruction of the spire and most of the lead-covered wooden roof above the stone vaulted ceiling. (Source: Wikipedia) 

BOOKS OF THE WEEK

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

By John C. Maxwell

I read this book a couple of years ago and found it interesting. If you like history, you may like this book.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (2004) is a history book written by Jack Weatherford, Dewitt Wallace Professor of Anthropology at Macalester College. It is a narrative of the rise and influence of Genghis Khan and his successors, and their influence on European civilization. Weatherford provides a different slant on Genghis Khan than has been typical in most Western accounts, attributing positive cultural effects to his rule. (Source: Wikipedia)

MOVIES OF THE WEEK

I saw this movie a long time ago, but just watched it again last week. It is very interesting, thought provoking and has stood the test of time.

The Man From Earth (2007)

An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he has a longer and stranger past than they can imagine. (Source: IMDB)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

How about some Mogul music this week.

Yuve Yuve Yu

By The Hu

ART OF THE WEEK

I bought the Black Cat (It is actually soap) and Carol bought the little green bathtub in Myrtle Beach. Carol put the cat in the bathtub and that was the art. Creating something new out of two existing objects, which have an affinity to one another (i.e.; soap & a bathtub).

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan (c. 1162 – August 18, 1227) was the founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death.

After founding the Empire and being proclaimed “Genghis Khan”, he launched the Mongol invasions that conquered most of Eurasia. By the end of his life, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China.

Genghis Khan died in 1227 after defeating the Western Xia. By his request, his body was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in Mongolia. His descendants extended the Mongol Empire across most of Eurasia by conquering or creating vassal states in all of modern-day China, Korea, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and substantial portions of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia.

Many of these invasions repeated the earlier large-scale slaughters of local populations. As a result, Genghis Khan and his empire have a fearsome reputation in local histories.

Beyond his military accomplishments, Genghis Khan also advanced the Mongol Empire in other ways. He decreed the adoption of the Uyghur script as the Mongol Empire’s writing system. He also practiced meritocracy and encouraged religious tolerance in the Mongol Empire, and unified the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia. Present-day Mongolians regard him as the founding father of Mongolia.

Genghis Khan was known for the brutality of his campaigns, and is considered by many to have been a genocidal ruler. However, he is also credited with bringing the Silk Road under one cohesive political environment. This brought relatively easy communication and trade between Northeast Asia, Muslim Southwest Asia, and Christian Europe, expanding the cultural horizons of all three areas. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS 

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

CURRENT EVENTS

I lifted in the raw bench press and raw deadlift, 181.7 to 198 lbs. category, aged 70 to 74.

In my age/weight category, I took first place in both the raw bench press and raw deadlift. In the deadlift, I set a new AAPF age/weight national record of 363.7 lbs.

BOOKS OF THE WEEK

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader

By John C. Maxwell

This book is a bit old, it came out in 1999 and although the title indicates it is about leadership; in a sense all of us are leaders in one way or another, even if we don’t bear the official title indicating we are a leader.

What struck me was the part of the book’s description that reads, “John C. Maxwell provides a concise, accessible leadership book that helps readers become more effective leaders from the inside out.” Who doesn’t need to work of their insides or to gain a deeper understanding of humans.

I first read this book long ago and have recently taken a second look at it and found insights such as, “It’s hard for a person to be generous when [they] are not satisfied with what [they have]. And if you’re not generous with little, you won’t suddenly change if you become wealthy.”

MOVIES OF THE WEEK

I thought this ad was better than the movies I watched this week.

Step Jamie – Progressive Insurance Ad

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I certainly didn’t work as hard getting ready for the AAPF National Powerlifting competition as Rocky did getting ready for his fight, but since November I have worked harder at the gym than I ever have to get ready for the AAPF Nationals.

Rocky Theme Song

ART OF THE WEEK

I’d say this tree is a bit of an artist.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Pericles

Pericles (495 – 429 BC) was a prominent and influential Greek statesman, orator and general of Athens during its golden age. Pericles led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War. The period during which he led Athens, roughly from 461 to 429 BC, is sometimes known as the “Age of Pericles”.

Pericles promoted the arts and literature; it is principally through his efforts that Athens acquired the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world.

He started an ambitious project that generated most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis (including the Parthenon). This project beautified and protected the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people.

Bill & Carol at the Acropolis

Pericles also fostered Athenian democracy. He, along with several members of his family, succumbed to the Plague of Athens in 429 BC, which weakened the city-state during a protracted conflict with Sparta. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

This answers the question.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Other than some terrible accident or birth defect, I don’t understand why anyone would want to change the interesting features that nature provides and are often the thing that makes you both interesting and unique.

CHARACTER TRAITS

It was the great Athenian leader, Pericles, who said that there was nothing wrong with poverty. It could be caused by so many things—a business failure, the sudden loss of a family’s breadwinner, theft, even just plain old back luck. Like the Stoics, he knew that Fortune could swoop in, and, in the blink of an eye, undo years of hard work and careful planning.

But Pericles would not have said, as religious leaders and populist demagogues have tried to argue for thousands of years, that there was anything special or holy about poverty. While it wasn’t necessarily someone’s fault they were poor, and so they shouldn’t be judged for it, Pericles said, there was “real shame…in not taking steps to escape it.” (Source: Daily Stoic)

SOCIAL TRAITS 

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

CURRENT EVENTS

I’ll be there, lifting in the raw bench press and raw deadlift, 181.7 to 198 lbs. category, aged 70 to 74.

BOOKS OF THE WEEK

This week I am suggesting two poetry books. All I know about poetry, I learned from watching this movie:

If like me, you don’t understand poetry; why not open yourself up to something different by watching this movie.

If you haven’t read a poetry book or if you like poetry, here are two books that you may want to consider. One is written by my good friend Chris Doka.

An Unfamiliar Ache

By Chris Doka

And the other is written by my wonderful wife, Carol Gammicchia (now Carol Allen)

Love Life

By Carol Gammicchia

MOVIES OF THE WEEK

As you can see below, I have been on a Great Expectation binge.

Great Expectations (1974)

Here is what a critic had to say about this 1974 version: The Listener – ‘Everything is wrong about it with a sort of dedicated, inspired wrongness that, in itself, is breath-taking’.

I just saw it and really liked it. Sarah Mills did a fantastic job as both young and older Estella. Michael York was as good a Pip as any I’ve seen. Anthony Quayle was impressive in the role of the attorney Jaggers. 

This 1988 version of Great Expectations took considerable liberties with the story and was my least favorite version. The fantastic character attorney Jaggers, is played as if Jaggers was a mafia bag man. On the plus side, it is always a joy to watch Gwyneth Paltrow.

Great Expectations (1988)

This 2011 PBS version of Great Expectations may be the best that I have seen to date. David Suchet brings attorney Jaggers to life. 

As for someone leaving Miss Havisham standing at the altar, not believable if the role is played by Gillian Anderson

PBS Great Expectations (2011)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I heard this song on the radio the other day, it came out in 1964, the year I graduated and the world was still normal. Things were soon to change with Viet Nam and riots. But for a couple of minutes, let’s let Millie Small take us back to 1964.

My Boy Lollipop (1964)

Millie small

ART OF THE WEEK

I always enjoy these pictures that force one to think about perspective. Like so many things in life, there is little absolute truth. So much simply depends upon your perspective.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Carolyn Cruse

That’s Carolyn between Jerome and Me,  shortly before I retired

Carolyn was the best all around corporate middle managers I ever encountered. She is now retired from the corporate world like me, but she certainly isn’t retired from life.

It is rare to find someone who cared so much for the welfare of her team members, had the respect of everyone she came in contact with, was so fair even when it perhaps was not always in her best interest to be fair. And as wise as they come. I can’t say enough good things about her.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

PHYSICAL TRAITS

If you go for the quick fix, the easy way; in the end I believe you are going to be disappointed. Losing weight and getting into shape is not easy–it is hard, very hard.

If all you had to do was drink something, take a pill or do this or that exercise for a few minutes, the whole world would be in great shape. Look around you, is that what you see–I don’t think so.

If you want it, you have to work hard for it, very hard and it takes time. You didn’t get in your present shape overnight, so don’t expect changes to take place overnight either.

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS 

As much as possible, one should try to withhold judgement regarding someone until you get to know them. You could be pleasantly surprised.

LEARNING TRAITS

There are a few good reasons for putting your stuff in a storage unit temporarily; but for most people it is a very expensive option for delaying the discarding you or whoever inherits your stuff will have to do.

MISCELLANEOUS

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

CURRENT EVENTS

Don’t Let This Happen To You

BOOK OF THE WEEK

I found this to be a very enjoyable read, plus lots of pictures.

How The Barbarian Invasions Shaped The Modern World

By Thomas J. Craughwell

How the Barbarian Invasions Shaped the Modern World is a richly detailed chronicle that brings to life the personalities of Attila the Hun, Alaric the Goth, Genghis Khan, and many other barbarian kings and chieftains whose rampages across Europe, Asia, and North Africa changed the course of history.

In this highly readable and authoritative book, author Thomas J. Craughwell draws upon the latest historical and archaeological research to reveal the impact of the barbarian invasions on the modern world, including the establishment of the English language, the foundation of world capitals such as Dublin, and the introduction of gunpowder to Europe. The book is Illustrated with more than 100 archival images gathered from around the world. The text is written in a narrative fashion, with anecdotes and vignettes to engage the reader’s imagination. 

MOVIE OR TV SHOW OF THE WEEK

I’ve seen this film a couple of times and watched it again last week and it is still pretty funny.

Paul (2011)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

No More Mr. Nice Guy

Alice Cooper

ART OF THE WEEK

This reminds me of the time I had a “rim cabin” at the Grand Canyon. Although I was on vacation, I had a document I needed to review and comment on. I was sitting there reading and highlighting the document with a large blue highlighter and glancing at the Canyon every so often.

A lady walked by and I remember her words. She said, “Is it permissible to look at your work?” Since it wasn’t a confidential document, I said ok. She walked up to where I was sitting, looked at my work, and just walked away. I never forgot the disgusted look she had on her face.

Only then, did it occur to me that she thought I was an artist, especially as I was holding a large blue highlighter.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Don’t believe that Alice Cooper song, No More Mr. Nice Guy. He is a really good guy. He was in the local Royal Oak, Michigan National Coney Island with his family. As they were leaving, a fan came up to him. Alice Cooper stopped and took time for a photo with his fan.  How many celebrities would do that, in fact how many celebrities would be an a local coney without security and their entourage.

ALICE COOPER

Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier; February 4, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spans over fifty years. With his distinctive raspy voice and a stage show that features guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, deadly snakes, baby dolls, and dueling swords, Cooper is considered by music journalists and peers alike to be “The Godfather of Shock Rock”. 

Originating in Phoenix, Arizona, in the late 1960s after he moved to Detroit, Michigan, “Alice Cooper” was originally a band consisting of Furnier on vocals and harmonica. In 2011, the original Alice Cooper band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Furnier adopted the band’s name as his own name in the 1970s and began a solo career with the 1975 concept album Welcome to My Nightmare. Expanding from his Detroit rock roots, Cooper has experimented with a number of musical styles, including art rock, hard rock, heavy metal, new wave, glam metal, and industrial rock.

Cooper is known for his sociable and witty personality offstage, with The Rolling Stone Album Guide calling him the world’s most “beloved heavy metal entertainer”. He is credited with helping to shape the sound and look of heavy metal, and has been described as the artist who “first introduced horror imagery to rock’n’roll, and whose stagecraft and showmanship have permanently transformed the genre”. Away from music, Cooper is a film actor, a golfing celebrity, a restaurateur, and, since 2004, a popular radio DJ with his classic rock show Nights with Alice Cooper. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

Isn’t this the truth.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS 

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

LAST WEEK’S POLLS