08/21/22 -Bay City. Michigan

CURRENT EVENTS Bay City, Michigan I would have loved to have travelled last week to Bay City by this ship, but instead took I-75. BOOK OF THE WEEK I usually don’t read fictional books; but I did this one because it was written by a friend of mine. I was surprised that I could not […]

08/14/22 – Change

CURRENT EVENTS Change BOOK OF THE WEEK This is a long book, but if you are as interested in the life of Alexander the Great as I am, then this book is a good choice. Alexander the Great (2019) By Anthony Everitt “Reads as easily as a novel . . . Nearly unparalleled insight into […]

09/07/15 – Seeing & Hearing

CURRENT EVENTS

CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE DAY

In Chapter 22 of my book, I talk about the importance of reducing the clutter in your life.  This coming Saturday, September 12, is National Clean Out Your Garage Day and would be a good start to reducing the clutter in your life. [Source:  The Detroit News, Friday, August 28, 2015]

FOOT RACES

Saturday, I was in the Arts, Beats & Eats 5K race and came in third in my age group, running 3.1 miles in 34 minutes and 49 seconds..  The two guys in my age group who were faster, were also a bit younger than me.  So, I thought next year I should be able to come in first, when I move into the 70 to 74 age group.

5K Arts Eats & Beats

Well to my surprised, when I looked at the 70 to 74 year old male runner results, I saw that 71 year old Monte Piliawsky ran the 3.1 miles in an extraordinary 22 minutes and 54 seconds.  I look forward to coming in second next year behind this extraordinary individual.

There will be another walk, 5K & 10K race at the Detroit Zoo this coming Sunday, September 13 and most likely you can find similar events wherever you happen to live.  So if you are looking for something to do after cleaning out your garage, maybe you want to try a walk or a short race.  For more information, click on http://www.detroitzoo.org/Events/run-wild?ref=em-QTN6mtFrDGdE

I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS – People really need to think about the people and companies they support with their hard earned dollars.

Walter Palmer, who has spent more than a month out of sight after becoming the target of protests and threats, intends to return to his suburban Minneapolis dental practice Tuesday. (Source: Interview Sunday evening conducted jointly by The Associated Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune)

We are looking for a dentist

CONTRAST – Contrast cowardly Walter Palmer with hero Ben Kuroki, who  died Tuesday.

Ben Kuroki

Ben Kuroki, a decorated Japanese-American gunner in the Army Air Forces of World War II, who was hailed on the American homeland at a time when tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans were confined to internment camps as supposed security risks, died on Tuesday in Camarillo, Calif. He was 98.

Many Americans of Japanese descent served with distinction in the Army’s ground forces. But the Air Forces had not wanted Mr. Kuroki, or, for that matter, any Japanese-Americans.

He nonetheless became an airman and received three Distinguished Service Crosses, taking part in raids over Europe and North Africa and then, after receiving special permission from the War Department, in missions over Japan. (Source: NY Times, Sunday, September 6, 2015)

SELF-HELP BOOKS:

I’m currently half-way through Katie Couric’s book, The Best Advice I Ever Got and it definitely lives up to what the back cover says about the book.  I particularly like that the wisdom these extraordinary people impart to the reader comes in doses of half-a-page to a few pages.  Below is some of what the back cover says about the book.

In this inspiring book, Katie Couric distills the ingenious, hard-won insights of such leaders and visionaries as Maya Angelou, Jimmy Carter, Michael J. Fox, and Ken Burns, who offer advice about life, success, and happiness—how to take chances, follow one’s passions, overcome adversity and inertia, commit to something greater than ourselves, and more.

The Best Advice I Ever Got

MOVIE OF THE WEEK 

This week’s film is a bit different from my usual recommendations.  It is a DVD that illustrates creativity, nature, generosity and some courage.  It is a documentary DVD about the Pennsylvania house that Frank Lloyd Wright designed.  I particularly like this video because it contains the reflections of Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., the son of the couple that asked Mr. Wright to design this extraordinary house.  However, this video is difficult to obtain and expensive; but there are many other books & videos on Frank Lloyd Wright and I have been fortunate enough to visit his studio in Oak Park, just outside of Chicago.  If you have any time and are in Chicago, it is worth the effort to visit Oak Park after seeing the highlights of downtown Chicago.

fallingwater_new_film_big2

http://www.fallingwatermuseumstore.org/browse.cfm/fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wrights-masterwork-dvd/4,679.html

If I had it to do over again, I would have included a chapter in my book about the physical aspects of the place that one calls home.  I believe one can make any home extraordinary, if one tries.  Although money does help, I believe it is the love one puts into the task that can make any physical place you call home extraordinary.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK – In Chapter 17 of my book, I discuss the importance of being meticulous about telling the truth.  I know many of us on Facebook have difference of opinion and I think it is good people feel free to express their views.  However, if you are using falsehoods to support your views; you are doing your views a disservice.

Please Fact Check

LAST WEEK POLL – What is your addiction

This week 24 people voted in the poll.  I can never understand why more people don’t vote.  I get general statistics telling me that about 100 people viewed this blog last week, but perhaps they each viewed the blog four times 🙂

Anyway, here are the results of the 24 people who voted:

6 were addicted to reading – That is wonderful, no doubt they are all extraordinary

4 were addicted to nothing – Well, that is extraordinary

4 were addicted to their cell phone – I’m amazed it was so few 

4 were addicted to work – Don’t we wish we could hire these people

2 were addicted to alcohol – You were only permitted to vote once, I’m guessing it was a tough choice between work and alcohol, but perhaps I am saying more about myself than anyone else 🙂

2 were addicted to love – hey, we gotta love these people

1 was addicted to exercise – it wasn’t me 🙂

1 was addicted to television and movies – I can’t blame them, I love movies.

No one was addicted to drugs – I’m thankful to hear that

THIS WEEK’S POLL – In chapter 37 of my book, I stress how important it is to use your time well, so here is a poll on how you use your time.

 

SONG OF THE WEEK – I hope you enjoyed Robert Palmer’s video last week as much as I did.  Well, this week’s song in some ways is the flip side of Robert Palmer’s video – Please check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJL4UGSbeFg

THIS WEEK’S JOKE – Chapter 40 of my book talks about seeing and hearing what is there, rather than what you want to be there.  In other words, if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.  For this week’s joke, I decided upon a video that illustrates that point.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbuoItyja64

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLERené Magritte (21 Nov 1898 – 15 Aug 1967)

 René Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images that fall under the umbrella of surrealism. His work is known for challenging observers’ preconditioned perceptions of reality. (Source: Wikipedia)

I would like to add that he was a philosopher, who just happened to communicate via paintings.  If you wish to think outside the box, you really need to see a number of his works.  He is my favorite artist and his paintings (Copies of course), as well as my wife’s paintings, are all over our house.

Here are just a few examples of his work:

00000381471001042K053JMV   MA959-TH  magritte_6

BLOG

If you would like to leave a comment to this post, just click on “Leave A Comment”, which is immediately below the title of this week’s post.

And as always, either leave a comment or send me your suggestions for current events, jokes, thoughts, movies, book, extraordinary people, songs, or anything you believe may be interesting and thought provoking for the readers of this blog. My address:  mailto:harmonybooksfilmsllc@comcast.net

MY BOOK

My Final Cover

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

 

08/31/15 – Advice for the Ladies

CURRENT EVENTS

FOOT RACE

The 18th Annual Ford Arts, Beats & Eats takes place in Downtown Royal Oak. The festival offers more than 200 performances on nine stages, a highly ranked Juried Fine Arts Show, and local restaurants with some of the finest cuisine in Metro-Detroit.   In addition, there is also a 5K / 10K race associated with the event that starts Saturday morning, September 5.  For more information, please click on the link below:

http://www.artsbeatseats.com/priority-health-5k-10k/

CHARACTER TRAITS

Character traits such as courage, self-worth, optimism, etc. are so much the foundation of being extraordinary, that I devoted 19 chapters in my book to various character traits.  These four people, as well as the President of France in the Center of the photo below, are truly extraordinary for the courage they displayed in standing up to terrorism.

train-paris-hollan_3416689b

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT…
These three Americans. On Friday, three Americans — two of them off-duty military service members — took down a heavily armed gunman on a train going from Amsterdam to Paris. The three men and a British passenger tackled the suspect – who was carrying an AK47 and lots of ammo – before he could do anything. The suspect is a 26-year-old Moroccan man. European officials think he may have terror ties. But yesterday, his lawyer said he was just trying to rob people on the train. Which made everything all better. (Source: The SKIMM)

NEW STORE IN ROYAL OAK

Emmys-Post-1-main-600x

Emmy’s Post is a new and extraordinary boutique store in Royal Oak, MI on 6th street between Main and Washington streets. The inside of the store is even more interesting than the picture above depicts.  Plus, it also has some cool clothes for girls of all ages at reasonable prices. If you would like to know more about the store, please clink on the link below:

http://www.emmyspost.com/about-us/

SELF-HELP BOOKS:

Several weeks ago I did a running poll and 47% of you said that you have never entered a race, not even a one mile race. I have no way of knowing, but I would guess that a number of you in that 47% are younger than 50.

Anyway, there are so many people past the age of 50, who are still running races. Although this book is obviously for the over 50 market, I think much of the advice is good for people of any age. For instance, the human body improves with use, unlike machines that wear out with use. Surely, you have all heard of the phrase, “Use it or lose it.”

In chapter 2 of my book, I stress the importance of cardiovascular fitness and this book will help you.

Running Past 50

MOVIE OF THE WEEK 

Midnight in Paris is one of the best movies I have ever seen and if you know anything at all about the artists who were in Paris during the 1920s, you will enjoy this film all the more and you may want to visit this magnificent city.  Chapter 48 of my book talks about the importance of travel and about purchasing experiences rather things.

Midnight in Paris

This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better. (Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK – As I mention in Chapter 24 of my book, people aren’t mind readers, politely ask for what you want, which the quote below that I found on the internet illustrates.

Ask

LAST WEEK POLL – How lucky do you feel on a scale of 1 to 10

Here are the results of 23 people who voted:

10 – 3 votes

9 – 1 vote

8 – 7 votes

6 – 6 votes

5 – 2 votes

4, 3 & 2 – 0 votes

1 – 1 vote

The above poll was part of a research study where participants were asked how lucky they were on a scale of one to ten.  They were then given a fake newspaper and asked to count the photos inside.  Throughout the paper were headlines saying, “the answer is 37, collect $100.”  People who believe themselves to be lucky, generally stopped early and collected the extra $100.  Others, who considered themselves unlucky, diligently completed the task and eventually came up with the right answer.

The researches believed the results indicated that luck is more about being open to opportunities beyond how the task or situation is presented, than simply good fortune. (Source:  Tony Hsieh, NYT Best Selling Author of Delivering Happiness and he is CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.)

THIS WEEK’S POLL – In chapter 49 of my book, I talk about addictions, so here is a poll on addictions.

 

SONG OF THE WEEK – Check this out, it relates to the poll

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcATvu5f9vE

THIS WEEK’S JOKE – Chapter 50 of my book relates to Marriage/Life Partners, so I thought you ladies out there would find this bit of information helpful in retaining a great relationship.

Women’s Five Secrets to a Great Relationship:

1. It is important to find a man who works around the
house,occasionally cooks and cleans, and who has a job.

2. It is important to find a man who makes you laugh.

3. It is important to find a man who is dependable and
doesn’t lie.

4. It is important to find a man who’s good in bed and
who loves to have sex with you.

5. It is very important that these four men never meet!!

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE – Alexander the Great

220px-AlexanderTheGreat_Bust
Occupation: Military Commander and King of Ancient Greece
Born: July 20, 356 BC and Died: June 10, 323 BC at the age of 32
Best known for: Conquering much of Asia and Europe

(What is important is the life in your years and not the years in your life.)

Short Biography:

Alexander the Great was the king of Macedonia or Ancient Greece. He is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. (Note to all: His tactics are still studied, so it is not what you do that is important, but the excellence in which you do it.  I’m personally against war, but if you make war–do it well.)

Childhood of Alexander the Great:

Alexander’s father was King Philip the II, who had built up a strong and united empire in Ancient Greece, which Alexander inherited. (Note to children:  It is important to chose your parents wisely.)

Like most children in Athens, Alexander as a child, learned mathematics, reading, writing, and how to play the lyre. He also was instructed on how to fight, ride a horse, and hunt. When Alexander turned thirteen, his father Philip II, hired the great philosopher Aristotle. At school Alexander met many of his future generals and friends. He also enjoyed reading the works of Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey. (Note to Parents:  It is important to give you child a good education at a good school, where your child can meet other children of like minded parents).

Alexander’s Conquests

After securing the throne and getting all of Greece under his control, Alexander turned east to conquer more of the civilized world. He moved swiftly using his military genius to win battle after battle conquering many peoples and rapidly expanding the Greek empire.

First he moved through Asia Minor and what is today Turkey. He took over Syria defeating the Persian Army at Issus and then laying siege to Tyre. Next, he conquered Egypt and established Alexandria as the capital. After Egypt came Babylonia and Persia, including the city of Susa. Then he moved through Persia and began to prepare for a campaign in India. At this point Alexander had accumulated one of the largest empires in history. However, his soldiers were ready to revolt. They wanted to return home to see their wives and children. Alexander agreed and his army turned back. (Note to all:  Caution, the more you have the more you want, it may be better to simply want what you have.)

Death of Alexander

Alexander only made it back to Babylon where he became suddenly sick and died. No one is sure what he died from, but many suspect poison. Upon his death the great empire he had built was divided up amongst his generals.  (Note to all:  Nothing lasts)

Source:  Much of the above on Alexander is borrowed from http://www.ducksters.com/biography/alexander_the_great.php

BLOG

If you would like to leave a comment to this post, just click on “Leave A Comment”, which is immediately below the title of this week’s post, “08/31/15 – Advice for the Ladies”.

And as always, either leave a comment or send me your suggestions for current events, jokes, thoughts, movies, book, extraordinary people, songs, or anything you believe may be interesting and thought provoking for the readers of this blog. My address:  mailto:harmonybooksfilmsllc@comcast.net

MY BOOK

My Final Cover

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692