He was the founding lead singer and frontman of the Village People, died at age 74 on June 30, 2026, following a short but aggressive illness. He famously co-wrote the group’s biggest hits, including “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy
The Kindle version of this book is free, and the paperback version is $10However, I must warn you that this book will not change your life, only you can do that.This book can be ordered from Amazon
Current Events Happy Mothers Day My Mom My Mother-In-Law Book of the Week Benjamin Franklin By Carl Van Doren This is a huge book (Around 850 pages), but very easy to read. I would say this is the definitive book on Benjamin Franklin. By reading this book, a young person can learn so much about […]
Current Events Getting Old vs. Neglect Book of the Week Information Systems Audit & Control Association Detroit Chapter 50th Anniversary Celebration October 16, 2024 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Management Tips & Jokes Bill Allen – Author, Film Maker, Auditor and Previous Detroit Chapter Board Member Based on his book, Uncle Tony’s Management Tips & […]
CURRENT EVENTS Slow Down Find the magic in each experience & interaction BOOK OF THE WEEK This is an extremely easy to read book and you will be better for having the experience of reading it. I hope you give it a try. How To Be Calm By Anna Barnes How to Be Calm […]
CURRENT EVENTS Most Exciting Part of Your Day Make sure you don’t build your life on one thing. BOOK OF THE WEEK MOVIE OF THE WEEK I never thought I would make it through this nine season series, but I did. I found seasons 8 and 9 well worth watching. Suits Season 9 MUSIC OF […]
CURRENT EVENTS For Those Who Missed Last Week’s Eclipse BOOK OF THE WEEK This little book is well worth reading. Rules For A Knight By Ethan Hawke A knight, fearing he may not return from battle, writes a letter to his children in an attempt to leave a record of all he knows. In a […]
Given all the chaos with this year’s USA presidential nominating process, I have heard some talk about Rick Astley, who promises among other things to “never let you down. Before making up your mind, you should click on the link below for one of Rick Astley’s campaign speeches. And of course please feel free via the comment section to suggest other potential candidates.
Walking is a great exercise for both physical and mental benefits.
Also you should put a lot of thought into your clothing choices, since how you dress reflects your self-image and people do judge you by your clothing choices. If you wish to be extraordinary, the gentleman below provides a good example of how you want your clothing choices to make you feel.
CHARACTER TRAITS
The Foundation for Being Extraordinary
Please don’t be one of those people who brightens up a room by leaving it.
SOCIAL TRAITS
Getting Along with Others
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, the only difference between people is what they do with those 24 hours.
LEARNING TRAITS
Growth Keeps You Extraordinary
Extraordinary people see and hear what is there, and not what they want to see and hear.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary
It is possible to be addicted to anything, not just drugs and alcohol. People slowly kill themselves by being addicted to nicotine, sugar and white flour. Others, destroy themselves by being addicted to money, power, sex, fame and all sorts of other things.
You can never me extraordinary if you are addicted to anything.
SELF-HELP BOOKS
Wildly Sophisticated
by Nicole Williams
Wildly Sophisticated came out in 2004, I have read it and reviewed it several times over the years and I think it is still relevant and provides some common sense ideas in an interesting way. Although it is written for women, the advice is useful for anyone.
Or if you want something fresher from Nicole Williams, she has since written several other books. I have not got around to them, but I suspect they too contain good advice presented in an interesting style.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Our Brand Is Crisis
Given that we are in the presidential nomination season here in the USA, I thought this film is relevant; but, in any case, it is a rather superb film to watch.
Failing badly in the polls, a Bolivian presidential candidate enlists the services of an American management team for help. The main star is “Calamity” Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock), a brilliant strategist who comes out of self-imposed retirement for a chance to beat her professional nemesis, the loathsome Pat Candy. With Candy working for the opposition, it becomes a down-and-dirty, all-out battle between political consultants, where nothing is sacred and winning is all that matters.
LAST WEEK’S POLL – You
When it comes to gender, 55% of us are female, 45% male and the rest are other.
Regarding our ages:
35% are 60 to 69
30% are 50 to 59
15% are 70 to 79
10% are 40 to 49
5% are 30 to 39
5% are 80 or older
Regarding our level of education:
55% are college graduates
30% have masters degrees
10% are high school graduates
5% are community college graduates
As to how you know about this blog posting:
79% received an email from me
16% were notified via Facebook
5% were notified via WordPress
THIS WEEK POLL– Keeping Your Mouth Shut
MUSIC OF THE WEEK
Music Changes you
by Logan Paul
Folks, tell me via a comment, if you don’t believe music can change you after watch Logan Paul.
In my travels throughout the world, I have seen a lot of art. Some of that art is well-known and instantly recognizable. As for other art, all information about the work is lost in antiquity. For example, above is a photo of a statue I saw in Rome that caught my eye. Unfortunately, there are no details about who the statute represents or who created the statute.
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE
Benjamin Franklin
Born in Boston in 1706, Benjamin Franklin helped to draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and he negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War. His scientific pursuits included investigations into electricity, mathematics and map making. A printer and writer known for his wit and wisdom, Franklin was a polymath who published Poor Richard’s Almanack, invented bifocal glasses and organized the first successful American lending library. (Source: http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234#synopsis)
THIS WEEK’S JOKE
Something to remember when asked about your political party affiliation.
BLOG
Thanks to Sue, Samantha and Phil for commenting on last week’s post. Comments are so encouraging.
LT Garvin, Marissa and Isolated thank you for following this blog and bringing the total number of blog followers to 54.
Thank you MJayde for bringing my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page up to 62 likes.
If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends. Hopefully, more of you will continue to share this blog with others. My thanks to Carol, Charlene and Annettefor sharing my post last week on Facebook.
MY BOOK
If you know someone who is trying to change their life or that needs to change their life, please consider my book.
For those of you into reading books on a Kindle, the Kindle version of my book is $4.95.
My book is available on-line from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million.
And if you have read my book, please leave an evaluation of it on Amazon. Thank you.
I used the Spanish word for apologize because I know so many are apology challenged and I didn’t want to scare those of you that are nonapologists away from my blog.
I read an interesting article in the Sunday, June 28, 2015 New York Times by Laura Zigman. The article was titled, Sorry – A Nonapologist’s Apology.
The article made some interesting points about people with fragile self-esteem preferring to offer explanations (aka excuses) to admitting they were wrong and offering a sincere apology without an excuse.
I cover the topic of apologizing in Chapter 32 of my book, Apologize–Without Being Asked, and Never Ask for an Apology.
This week’s recommendation is a book that I have possessed for over 20 years. It is George Washington’s Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior. It doesn’t really address the need to apologize; but given that the Fourth of July weekend just ended and it was written by George Washington when he was 14 years old, I think it says a lot more than what it actually says.
Copied out by hand as a young man aspiring to the status of Gentleman, the 110 precepts which make up this work 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 George Washington seems to have copied. However much he may have simplified them, these precepts 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 and offer pointers on such issues as how to dress, walk, eat in public, and address one’s superiors. (Source: Amazon / Barnes & Nobles)
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
I found some great “apology” scenes, but I just didn’t feel the scene was worth the viewing of the entire movie, so instead I am going to apologize and recommend you watch one of the four Pirates of the Caribbean films. Surely, there are some apologies somewhere in these films. My favorite still being the first one, The Curse of the Black Pearl. I understand a fifth film is to be released July 7, 2017; titled Dead Men Tell No Tails.
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”
Source: Benjamin Franklin
THIS WEEK’S POLL
RESULTS OF LAST WEEK’S POLL ON USA RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
Over 50% of you believe the USA tries to be fair in its dealings with other countries, but makes many mistakes. However, there is a sizable number of you (35%) that believe the USA is more interested in advancing its own interests than letting other countries follow their own course.
THIS WEEK’S JOKES
CONCLUSION
Since we are wrapping up the Fourth of July weekend here in the USA, I thought I would post a video of this year’s International Freedom Festival fireworks display on the Detroit River between Canada and the USA.
For those of you that have supported me by purchasing a copy of my book, please do me another favor and let others know what you thought of it at Amazon:
Also, if you enjoy this blog, why not pass it on to your friends as well as consider liking my Facebook page Harmony Books & Films, LLC. So far, 51 of you have been kind enough to like my Facebook page.
I think comments make this blog so much more interesting and helpful, so why not start a conversation? All you have to do to leave a comment is to click on the last line of the weekly post, where it says, “Leave a comment”.
The Kindle version of this book is free, and the paperback version is $10 However, I must warn you that this book will not change your life, only you can do that. This book can be ordered from Amazon
