CURRENT EVENTS

The Invasion Continues

It has been over a month now since Putin invaded the Ukraine.

When will the Russian people say enough?

I encourage everyone to donate to the Ukrainian cause, but please check out the organization before you make your donation. I feel it is criminal, but there are people taking advantage of your desire to help the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

I first read this book back in 1976, two years after it came out in 1974. He was concerned about the state of communications in 1974. Well, from my limited vantage point, things have become far worse.

If you are curious about how things once were, you may want to check this book out. It contains ideas such as this, again written in 1974:

 It may be that we have entered a time when some groups would do better to ignore each other than to communicate with each other.

Not communicating saves energy; it keeps people from worrying about things they cannot do anything about; and it eliminates an enormous amount of useless talk.

So, are you interested in this book?

Strictly Speaking

By Edwin Newman

Newman focuses on the sorry state of the English language as a reflection of the sorry state of the society.

If words are devalued, he argues, so are ideas and so are human beings. (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Ever wonder why someone believes like they do?

Perhaps, this movie may help you understand.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

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

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

And this is one of the reasons why:

Back in the USA (1959)

By Chuck Berry

ART OF THE WEEK

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

USA President Biden (Unfiltered)

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

This makes as much sense as letting genetic males participate in women’s sports.

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS

Dating has become far more complicated,

than when I was young

LEARNING TRAITS

If you are an individual, you should be able to do your own taxes.

If not, you either haven’t tried, or the tax code is too complicated. 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Prime Ministers

of

Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic 

The prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday evening as a curfew began in Kyiv.

Ukraine has praised the courage of three European leaders who made a long, hazardous journey by rail from Poland to Kyiv in a show of support as the city came under further Russian attack.They are the first Western leaders to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded.

“Your visit is a powerful expression of support for Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky is quoted as telling the group.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Civility and decent behaviour seems to be missing in so many today.

George Washing listed out 110 rules in this little 30 page book. It would be nice if this book was at least briefly discussed in homes and schools.

I do think if one wishes to advance themselves in life, they would do well to study this little book.

George Washington’s

Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour

Copied out by hand as a young man aspiring to the status of Gentleman, George Washington’s 110 rules were based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595.

The first English edition of these rules was available in Francis Hawkins’ Youths Behavior, or Decency in Conversation Amongst Men, which appeared in 1640, and it is from this work that Washington seems to have copied.

The rules as Washington wrote them out are a simplified version of the text. They had a strong influence on Washington, who aimed to always live by them.

The rules focus on self-respect and respect for others through details of etiquette. The rules offer pointers on such issues as how to dress, walk, eat in public, and address one’s superiors.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

For a while now, I have been re-watching the Poirot series 

with my four favorite characters

Chief Inspector Japp, Poirot, Miss Lemon & Capt. Hastings

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Something Else (1959)

By Eddie Cochran

ART OF THE WEEK

St. Patrick’s Day Decorations

  EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE  OF THE WEEK

Ukrainians

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Bench Press from last week’s contest

CHARACTER TRAITS

Don’t let this be your lion.

SOCIAL TRAITS

The Ukrainians are fighting for everyone’s freedom. Have you made a donation to support them in their fight?

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

Arnold Schwarzenegger shares ‘truth’

about Ukraine conflict with Russian people

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Results of 2022 Michigan APF State Championships

I achieved by bench press and deadlift goals, setting state APF & AAPF raw bench press age/weight record and a National APF raw deadlift age/weight record.

 

 

BOOK OF THE WEEK

I just finished reading this book and I think it is an excellent easy read, containing some keen insights about people. 

Death on the Nile

By Agatha Christie

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

In preparation to watch this movie I again watched the 1978 film and the 2004 television version. I would say the 1978 film had a much better story and the 2004 television version had a much better Poirot.

I also recently read the 1938 Agatha Christie book, Death on the Nile.

The beginning of the story about why Hercule Poirot has a mustache was not in any of the 50+ Poirot stories I have read and certainly not in Death of the Nile. The same is true for the ending where Hercule removes his mustache. 

As for the characters, they are a mess.

Perhaps someone who has never seen the two earlier movies of Death on the Nile, let alone read the actual story may think this is a fine film. Well, perhaps it beats most of todays thoughtless action films– even I am forced to agree when it is put like that.

Kenneth Branagh

Death on the Nile (2022)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Da Doo Ron Ron (1963)

By The Crystals

ART OF THE WEEK

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

Rick Polomski

If you knew him, you would understand why he is the

Extraordinary Person of the Week

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

Closer to the truth than I care to admit

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Have we learned nothing?

If you don’t know who Neville Chamberlain is and what he did, your teachers have failed you. Appeasing dictators never has worked.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Some Bookish Humor

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Death on the Nile

Although I have watched the two earlier versions of Death on the Nile (Post 02/27/22), I did not want to watch the current version until I finished reading this book.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

You may have thought Brigitte Bardot was just a film star, after all she was in 47 films during 1952 to 1973. However, you may not know that she recorded more than 60 songs.

‘L’appareil à sous’ (1963)

By Brigitte Bardot

ART OF THE WEEK

I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the art below; other than,

I Like It

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

President Volodymyr Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky

“As you attack, it will be our faces you see, not our backs.” — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Russia invaded his country.

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Rochester Performance Gym

Rochester, MI

My first contest of 2022

Bench Press & Deadlift (aka Push/Pull)

CHARACTER TRAITS

Don’t lose family and friends over opinions.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Political Correctness

LEARNING TRAITS

I don’t know if the following is true or not; but if it isn’t true, it should be. 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Support the Ukraine

It has been well over a month now since Putin invaded the Ukraine.

Ukrainians are fighting not just for their freedom,

but for everyone’s freedom.

Have you done anything on behalf of the Ukrainians?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Back in 2017, Bill Gates suggested to me and 1 million of his other closes friends, that I read this book.

This book is not brief, my hard copy is close to 450 pages and the paperback is 578 pages.

However, the book is interesting and well written in easy to read language. As with any large book, some of you may want to skip some of the pages. I found the early part of the book about pre-history fascinating and something everyone should read and accept or reject as you are inclined.

Sapiens

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 … (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

This is a good movie and Sandra Bullock, as usual, is very entertaining. Brad Pitt was great in what little he was in the film.

Definitely worth seeing once.

The Lost City (2022)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

“Wettstreit zu viert” or “Competitive Foursome”

By Salut Salon

ART OF THE WEEK

Are you interested in knowing a bit more about cave art?

Here is a 3 1/2 minute clip by the World History Encyclopedia 

Cave Art: Complex Paintings from the Stone Age

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

Nora

Here is a photo of my Armageddon Teammate Nora, that I took of her training at the start of last week. It is easy to see why my 79 year old teammate is a powerlifting world champion.

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Remember, the Lord helps those who help themselves.

Especially, if they help themselves to some vegetables.

CHARACTER TRAITS

Oscar Night

Many of you have seen this video and there are some who think Will Smith did the right thing.

You are wrong!

Please also note that Chris Rock had his hands behind his back, when he received the cowardly sucker slap from Will Smith.

Later, Will Smith received a standing ovation when he received his Oscar, which tells you all you need to know about Oscar Night.

SOCIAL TRAITS

LEARNING TRAITS

Most people are only as happy as they want to be.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Ukraine

What is happening in the Ukraine is 

absolutely heartbreaking!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Way You Wear Your Heart

Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Living’

By Bill Zehme

I think you can learn a lot about living from this book.

In The Way You Wear Your Hat, author Bill Zehme presents a masterful assembly of personal details of Frank Sinatra’s way of living. The book is  crafted from interviews with Sinatra himself as well as many other intimates, including Tony Bennett, Don Rickles, Angie Dickinson, Tony Curtis, and Robert Wagner, in addition to daughters Nancy and Tina Sinatra.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Death on the Nile

I’ve been watching a couple of older Death on the Nile films in preparation for seeing the current Kenneth Branagh version of Death on the Nile.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, it is about Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer. His vacation turns into a search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s honeymoon is tragically cut short. 

The 1978 movie is a better story of these two versions, but David Suchet (Television) is Hercule Poirot. 

Death of the Nile (1978 Movie)

Death on the Nile (2004 Television)

Hopefully, next week I will get around to seeing the Kenneth Branagh version of Death on the Nile.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Ukrainian Patriotic Song

“Ой, у лузі червона калина”

ART OF THE WEEK

Essential Surrealists

By Tim Martin 

If you aren’t familiar with surrealist art, you may want to check out a book like this one that will expose you to this unique art form.

Rather than describe the above book, I thought it would be more helpful to provide you with some information on the Surrealist Movement.

Surrealism is a cultural movement that started in 1917, best known for its juxtaposition of uncommon imagery. Artists painted unnerving, illogical scenes, sometimes with photographic precision, creating strange creatures from everyday objects, and developing painting techniques that allowed the unconscious to express itself.

Its aim was, according to Breton, to “resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a super-reality”, or surreality. (Source: Wikipedia)

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor who is generally viewed as one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century.

He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide. (Source: Wikipedia) 

I’m not sure how true the following is,

but if it isn’t true, it should be.

There are so many things about Frank Sinatra, that would make him worthy of being extraordinary person of the week, but that is not why I selected him this week. The reason selected him was because of the following story, which I think is likely true; but, I can’t say with certainty. I came across the story in Bill Zehme’s book The Way You Wear Your Hat. The story goes something like this:

Frank’s daughter Nancy was having a school party and Frank was  host. One little girl accidentally knocked over one of a pair of porcelain birds and it shattered.

Frank’s daughter Nancy, gasped, “That was my mother’s favorite.”

The little girl who broke one of the porcelain birds was mortified.

Frank walked over to the table and knocked the remaining bird on to the floor, shattering that bird. He then walked over to the girl who broke the first bird and said, “That’s okay, kid. Accidents happen.”

Wouldn’t you like to be like Frank, well you can. Any of us can.

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

Addictive Behavior

Substance Abuse Isn’t The Only Type of Addiction

Guard Against All Types of Addictions

SOCIAL TRAITS

I wish it was just youth that supports 

Socialism.

The pandemic has shown us just how many people are willing to give up freedom.

LEARNING TRAITS

Another Tip From World Famous 

Chef Ronaldo 

Can’t Find Your Pizza Cutter

Try This

MISCELLANEOUS

It takes a while for things to be perceived.

Perhaps, we are too close to something to really perceive it for what it is.

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Do you believe what you are being told?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Hercule Poirot

The Complete Short Stories

By Agatha Christie

I started reading these stories back in January 2019 and only recently finished this 850+ page book. Obviously, I took some reading breaks. If you like short detective stories, check this book out.

At last, a single volume that gathers together all of the short stories featuring Agatha Christie’s most famous creation, Hercule Poirot. The dapper, mustache-twirling little Belgian with the egg-shaped head and curious mannerisms has solved some of the most puzzling crimes of the century—and, in his own humble opinion, is “probably the greatest detective in the world.”

In this complete collection of more than 50 stories, ranging from short tales to novellas, Poirot faces violent murders, poisonings, kidnappings, and thefts—all solved with his characteristic panache. Only Agatha Christie could have devised cases worthy of Hercule Poirot’s skill and “little gray cells.” (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I found this nine episode Netflix series interesting; although, I have heard others say they didn’t care for it. So, like most things; it isn’t for everyone.

Inventing Anna 

Inventing Anna is an American drama streaming television miniseries created and produced by Shonda Rhimes, inspired by the story of Anna Sorokin and the article in New York titled “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” by Jessica Pressler. The series was released on Netflix on February 11, 2022. Julia Garner stars as Anna Sorokin, the title character.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

This song came out in April 1967 and I came home from Vietnam May 10, 1967. It was a great time to be young and alive. If not this time, I would have wanted to spend my youth in the “Roaring 20s”.

59th Street Bridge Sone (Feeling Groovy)

By Harpers Bizarre

ART OF THE WEEK

I can’t recall when I took this photo, but I thought the art work was more interesting than the traditional snowman. 

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

MATA HARI

Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod (née Zelle; 7 August 1876 – 15 October 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I

On 13 February 1917, Mata Hari was arrested in her room at the Hotel Elysée Palace on the Champs Elysées in Paris. She was put on trial on 24 July, accused of spying for Germany, and consequently causing the deaths of at least 50,000 soldiers. Although the French and British intelligence suspected her of spying for Germany, neither could produce definite evidence against her.

Zelle was executed by a firing squad of 12 French soldiers just before dawn on 15 October 1917. She was 41. According to an eyewitness account by British reporter Henry Wales, she was not bound and refused a blindfold. She defiantly blew a kiss to the firing squad. (Source: Wikipedia) 

I’m not sure how true the following is,

but if it isn’t true, it should be.

At her execution [ ], Mata Hari, dressed to the nines, blew a kiss at her firing squad and smiled, causing one soldier to faint and another to marvel, “Sacre bleu, this lady knows how to die.” (Source: Simply Irresistible by Ellen T. White)

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Don’t Say You Weren’t Warned

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Happy Valentine’s Day

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Here are some Valentine’s Day tips for the ladies.

Simply Irresistible

By Ellen T. White

Simply Irresistible is a humorous manual of case studies that show how the greatest sirens of history did what they did and got what they wanted, nearly all the time.

Our role models include Eva Peron, Greta Garbo, Coco Chanel, Nigella Lawson, Angelina Jolie, Edith Piaf, Lucretia Borgia, Anne Boleyn, Mata Hari, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Simply Irresistible gives practical, sexy, and sometimes downright outrageous advice on modern seduction. It exalts the siren archetypes of the Companion, Competitor, Goddess, Mother, and Sex Kitten.

The cheeky histories of the iconic real-life women are paired with a fun array of quizzes, quotes, photos, tongue-in-cheek captions, and personal stories of triumph and tragedy. Mata Hari and Anne Boleyn were, after all, both executed.  (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

If you are looking for a Valentine Movie to watch and if you haven’t already seen this film, you may want to give it a try.

Don Juan DeMarco (1995)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

It is the week of Valentine’s Day, so what better song.

Addicted To Love

By Robert Palmer

ART OF THE WEEK

  EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE  OF THE WEEK

Lovers Everywhere

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS

Or if you are a bit more frisky

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

A Little Valentine’s Day Science