CURRENT EVENTS

So many parents pick their children up from school or wait at the school bus stop for their child. I thought that family love of their children was so touching that I decided to post a clip of such a situation.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

I found this Malcolm Gladwell book, like his other books, worth reading; although to me it was not his best book. If you have never read Malcolm Gladwell, you may want to start with some of his earlier books.

Talking to Strangers

By Malcolm Gladwell

How did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for a generation? Why did Neville Chamberlain think he could trust Adolf Hitler? Why are campus sexual assaults on the rise? Do television sitcoms teach us something about the way we relate to each other that isn’t true? 

He revisits the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia scandal at Penn State University, and the death of Sandra Bland – throwing our understanding of these and other stories into doubt. (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I normally don’t care for animated films, plus this is a very strange movie. Regardless, I am glad I watched this film.

Waking Life

Director Richard Linklater’s animated film follows a young man as he floats in and out of philosophical discussions with a succession of eccentrics and passionate thinkers, all the while uncertain whether he’s conscious or dreaming. (Source: Netflix)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Burning Love

By Elvis with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

ART OF THE WEEK

This may be the most impressive building I have ever been in.

Basilica de la Sagrada Famila in Barcelona

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família also known as the Sagrada Família, is a large unfinished Roman Catholic minor basilica in Barcelona, Catalonia. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926).

On 19 March 1882, construction of the Sagrada Família began under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he is buried in the crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Relying solely on private donations, the Sagrada Família’s construction progressed slowly and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. In July 1936, revolutionaries set fire to the crypt and broke their way into the workshop, partially destroying Gaudí’s original plans, drawings and plaster models, which led to 16 years work to piece together the fragments of the master model. Construction resumed to intermittent progress in the 1950s. Advancements in technologies have since enabled faster progress and construction passed the midpoint in 2010. It is anticipated that the building can be completed by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death. (Source: Wikipedia)

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

 Ken Shelton

That is Ken in the blue shirt to the right of me. I don’t think there was ever a better guy than Ken. After he retired from the company, I taped up a picture of him behind my desk so that he would be looking over my shoulder and remind me to treat people like he would have treated them. I didn’t live up to his standard, but I was better for trying.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

I’ve used this video before. but I just cannot help myself. Especially since the Song of The Week is by Elvis, so here it is again. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all go through life without hurtin nobody.

Ain’t Hurtin Nobody

John Price

SOCIAL TRAITS 

Unfaithful

I’m dedicating this week’s topic under Social Traits to all your folks out there who have experienced the pain of an unfaithful spouse.

My second wife ran off with my best friend.

I don’t think I ever got over it.

I still miss that guy.

LEARNING TRAITS

This is an example of creativity.

MISCELLANEOUS

LAST WEEK’S POLLS