04/11/16 – Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike

April 11, 2016April 11, 2016 Wm. Allen6 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike

Folks, if you have never experienced live theater other than a school play, I urge you to give it a try. It is an ancient art form and there is a reason it has been around for as long as the early Greek playwrights.

I realize most of you don’t live in S.E. Michigan; but for those of you who do, I urge you to see this play performed at the Baldwin Theater in Royal Oak, MI. I was at opening night and thought it was a terrific play, plus performed so well.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

Folks, please don’t be like this dog. Instead, try to get some exercise and eat properly.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

There once was a person who desperately needed to get to the other side of a river so that they could continue their journey.

They made a raft out of the materials at hand and floated across the river eventually reaching the other side.

Upon reaching the other side, they wondered what they should do with the raft. Should they tie it to their back and carry it on their journey if they met another river?

Should they trudge around with the raft on their back forever more?

No, the raft had served its purpose and they had no need to be fettered to it any longer.

If you wish to be extraordinary, you must ask yourself if you are carrying around things that no longer serve any purpose on your journey through life.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

The extraordinary person is always interested in learning about the beliefs of others, so to get you started on your journey of discovery I offer the following:

MISCELLANEOUS

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

The extraordinary person appreciates and protects nature.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

A Manual for Living

by Epictetus

At the top of the cover of this book are the words, A Little Book of Wisdom. This book certainly lives up to that. It is just 88 tiny pages, written by a former Roman slave, who describes the path to happiness, fulfillment, and tranquility, no matter what the circumstances.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

If Horror Movies Were Realistic

Did you ever wonder what horror movies would be like, if they were realistic. Well, Logan Paul gives us the answer. Just click on the link below his photo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRWtgYnMpR0

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Keeping Your Mouth Shut

If we were certain a close friend was making a huge mistake:

61% of us would hint we had some doubts about their decision

22% of us would clearly state they are making a huge mistake

13% of us would support are friend’s decision, although we knew it was a huge mistake

4% of us would say nothing about the decision

When it comes to a close friend risking their friendship with you to keep you from making a serious mistake:

67% of us have never had a friend do that for us

28% of us have had a friend risk their friendship with us to keep us from making a serious mistake

5% of us aren’t sure

Of those of use experiencing a close friend taking serious exception to a decision we were making:

78% of us thanked the person for caring, but were not going to follow their advice

12% thanked the person and followed their advice

5% broke off the friendship but later forgave them

5% simply broke off the friendship

THIS WEEK POLL – Your Favorite Type of Movie

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Come A Little Bit Closer

by Jay and the Americans

I select this song because although it is a classic song, I thought this video by Balbuf was pretty cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d2b4XuAa80

ART OF THE WEEK

Statue of Done Quixote

Last week I showed you a statue that I came across while in Italy. This week’s statue is one that I came across while in La Mancha region of Spain, where Don Quixote is from. It appears to be a statue of the famous Don Quixote.

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Miguel de Cervantes

(Image not authenticated – none known)

Miguel de Cervantes (29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616), is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and the world’s pre-eminent novelist.

His major work, Don Quixote, considered to be the first modern European novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded among the best works of fiction ever written.

In 1569, Cervantes moved to Rome, where he worked as chamber assistant of a cardinal. In 1571, he decided to join the Spanish fleet at the battle of Lepanto, a major clash between the Catholic states and the Ottomans for the control of the Mediterranean.

Following this, Cervantes pursued his military career, but it was cut short when he was captured by Ottoman pirates and taken to Algiers, which had become one of the main and most cosmopolitan cities of the Ottoman Empire, and was kept there in captivity between 1575 and 1580.

In 1580, he was released by his captors on payment of a ransom by his parents and the Trinitarians, a Catholic religious order, and he later returned to his family in Madrid.

He worked as a purchasing agent for the Spanish Armada, and later as a tax collector for the government. In 1597, discrepancies in his accounts of three years earlier landed him in the Crown Jail of Seville.

In 1605, he was in Valladolid when the immediate success of the first part of his Don Quixote, published in Madrid, signalled his return to the literary world.

In 1607, he settled in Madrid, where he lived and worked until his death. During the last nine years of his life, Cervantes solidified his reputation as a writer; he published [ ] the second part of Don Quixote in 1615. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG

Thanks to Carolyn, Carol, Purpleanais, and Samantha for commenting on last week’s post. Comments are so encouraging, I urge you to let me know what you are thinking via a blog comment.

Carisa, thank you for following this blog and bringing the total number of blog followers to 55.

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 Joanne, Carol, Cheryl, Glenda, Elizabeth, Rose, Octavia, Terry, Theresa, Toni and Carla for 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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

04/04/16 – Presidential Candidates

April 4, 2016 Wm. Allen8 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Possible Presidential Candidate

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-1TOW_grPw

ART OF THE WEEK

Miscellaneous Statute in Rome

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 Annette for 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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

03/28/16 – Brussels

March 28, 2016 Wm. Allen8 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Brussels

A picture is worth a thousand words, so below is my 1,000 words on the Brussels terrorist attack.

Image Credit: http://sophel.deviantart.com/

Found at: http://arwenaragornstar.com/

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

One way you can tell if you are eating healthy is to look at how colorful the items are on your plate.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

Let’s hear your comments, is George right?

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

Below is the key for people to think you are a great conversationalist.

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

Eastern philosophies encourage one to think about their death each day, so that they will make the most of each day. The question each of us has to answer for ourselves is whether how we go about spending the precious gift of another day.

The picture below may help some of you answer that question.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Be Your Own Life Coach

by Jeff Archer

There are a number of books about being your own life coach, including one with this very same title. However, this is the one that I read and I thought it was rather good. You may want to give it a try.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I applaud Matt Damon for trying to rescue the viewers of this film from total boredom; nevertheless, do yourself a favor and skip this film.

When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead [from boredom after watching this film] after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to [stop this film to survive] survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to [change the channel] bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for [doing something other than watch this film] a daring rescue mission. (Source: Obviously, the words in red are mine).

Bridge of Spies

Now here is a film that is worth watching. The film also provides some examples of both the noble and ignoble human character.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers’ only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks), recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man’s freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Optimism

It is good to learn that 55% of us believe 2016 will be a better year than 2015.

Another 30% of us believe 2016 will be about the same as 2015 and sadly 15% of us believe 2016 will be worse than 2015.

THIS WEEK POLL – You

This week’s poll is about you, the readers of this blog–could I ever find a more interesting topic.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Tight Connection To My Heart

(Has Anyone Seen My Love)

by Bob Dylan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nheBN2UWAaM&list=PLknidvzcLCRG4gu8dfe91_flxj1C9h4OM

ART OF THE WEEK

Homesickness (1940)

by Belgium Painter René Magritte

René Magritte is my favorite painter/philosopher and in support of the people of Brussels, Belgium; I thought I would select art from a Belgium artist, who is also my choice for the Extraordinary Person this week.

In May 1940 his home was invaded by the Nazi during World War II and Magritte fled with his close friends Paul Eluard and Scutenaire. It would be easy to assume then that this painting was about the German occupation of Belgium and Magritte’s homesickness about having to flee the country he loved. Certainly this is an emotional component of the painting but there’s much more.

(Source: http://www.renemagritte.org/homesickness.jsp )

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

René Magritte

René Magritte (21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images. Often depicting ordinary objects in an unusual context, his work is known for challenging observers’ preconditioned perceptions of reality. His imagery has influenced pop, minimalist and conceptual art. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

A foreman tells Joe he needs to work in Area A today.

Joe says, “If you send me over to Area A, you are going to have to first write me a pass to see the Plant Nurse.

The foreman says, “Why?”

Joe says, “Because of my eyes.?

Foreman says, “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

Joe says, “I can’t see myself working in Area A.”

BLOG

Thanks to all of you who looked at my post last week for a record-setting 218 views.

I also want to thank Samantha, Carol, Ed & Kathy and Dave & Jan for commenting on last week’s post. Comments are so encouraging.

Purpleanais & Aquileana, thank you for following this blog and bringing the total number of blog followers to 51.

My Harmony Books & Films Facebook page likes stay at 61.

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 Joanne, Cheryl y Theresa for sharing my post last week.

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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

03/21/16 – Astrological News

March 21, 2016 Wm. Allen11 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

I’m not an astrophysicist, like Neal deGrasse Tyson, but I will try to keep you updated on various astrological events that come to my attention, like this extraordinary piece of information.

Happy Easter Everyone

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

One of the components of fitness is flexibility. As you can see below, yoga can help you stay flexible. Here are some people practicing yoga immediately after St. Patrick’s Day last week.

Here is another piece of good advice that I found in the April 2016 edition of Runners World:

When something works, excuse-proof it

On the other hand:

When something stops working, stop [ ]

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

How many times do we all fail to take action to make our dreams come true and our lives extraordinary.

It is time to cut that out.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

Some people with a distorted view of their religion, have done bad things to others in the name of religion.

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

Just think how much our lives would improve if we could actually learn and apply the following:

MISCELLANEOUS

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

If we aren’t careful, we can drive ourselves relentlessly crazy trying to do things or acquire things–that isn’t being extraordinary.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Star Trek: The Klingon Way

by Marc Okrand

If you are a fan of Star Trek, you may want to check out this easy read about Klingon virtues.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

If you have style, class and enjoy a movie with a bit of a story line, do yourself a favor and avoid Sisters. I stopped it, but wish I had never seen any of it. I expected more out of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Midnight in Paris

Instead, why don’t you check out Midnight in Paris. It is a fun film and you will learn so much about art, without ever taking an art history course. It is an amazing and witty film. For instance, Hemingway asks Gil if he ever hunts. Gill answers, “For bargains.”

Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is a screenwriter and aspiring novelist. Vacationing in Paris with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams), he has taken to touring the city alone. On one such late-night excursion, Gil encounters a group of strange — yet familiar — revelers, who sweep him along, apparently back in time, for a night with some of the Jazz Age’s icons of art and literature. The more time Gil spends with these cultural heroes of the past, the more dissatisfied he becomes with the present.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – When It Comes to Reading

I am pleased that 40% of us read more than 24 books a year, and sorry to report that 18% of us read less than two books a year.

Twenty-0ne percent of us read more than 12 books a year and another 21% of us read 2 to 6 books a year

THIS WEEK POLL – Optimism

At the start of this year, I asked how optimistic you felt about 2016. Eighty-seven percent of you expected 2016 to be better than 2015.

Nine percent of you thought 2016 would be about the same as 2015 and four percent of you thought 2016 would be worse than 2015.

Practically 1/4 of this year is over and I thought it might be a good time to check and see how 2016 is going for you, so here is this week’s poll.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

What guy can’t relate to this song?

She’s So Cold

by The Rolling Stones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo34VhfcetU

ART OF THE WEEK

Venus de Milo

Like the Stones said, “I’m so hot for her and she’s so cold.”

Aphrodite of Milos, better known as the Venus de Milo, is an ancient Greek statue and one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture. Created sometime between 130 and 100 BC, it is believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty (Venus to the Romans).

It is a marble sculpture, slightly larger than life-size at 6 ft. 8 in. high. The arms and original plinth were lost following its discovery. From an inscription that was on its plinth, it is thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch; earlier, it was mistakenly attributed to the master sculptor Praxiteles. It is currently on permanent display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The statue is named after the Greek island of Milos, where it was discovered. (Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Neal deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson (Born October 5, 1958) is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator. Since 1996, he has been the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City. The center is part of the American Museum of Natural History, where Tyson founded the Department of Astrophysics in 1997 and has been a research associate in the department since 2003.

From 1995 to 2005, Tyson wrote monthly essays in the “Universe” column for Natural History magazine, some of which were published in his book Death by Black Hole (2007). During the same period, he wrote a monthly column in Star Date magazine, answering questions about the universe under the pen name “Merlin”. Material from the column appeared in his books Merlin’s Tour of the Universe (1998) and Just Visiting This Planet (1998).

Tyson served on a 2001 government commission on the future of the U.S. aerospace industry, and on the 2004 Moon, Mars and Beyond commission. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in the same year. From 2006 to 2011, he hosted the television show NOVA Science, now on PBS. Since 2009, he has hosted the weekly podcast Star Talk. In 2014, he hosted the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a reboot of Carl Sagan’s 1980 series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences awarded Tyson the Public Welfare Medal in 2015 for his “extraordinary role in exciting the public about the wonders of science”. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

This joke is for those of you involved with health care claims.

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. Thank you Elizabeth & Carolyn for commenting on last week’s post.

Leaving a comment is easy, just click on “Leave A Comment”, which is immediately below the title of this week’s post. And if instead of seeing “Leave A Comment”, you see “# Comments”, just click on that and scroll down to leave your comment.

Junior Chills, Samantha, Elizabeth, Vilina and Action15 , thank you for following this blog and bringing the total number of blog followers to 49. It is easy to follow, just click in the side bar area where it says “Follow Harmony Books & Films, LLC”.

My Harmony Books & Films Facebook page likes stay at 61. Again, it is easy enough to like my Facebook page, just click in the side bar area where there is a little photo of the cover of my book.

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 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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

03/14/16 – Ides of March

March 14, 2016 Wm. Allen5 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Ides of March

You have probably heard of this phrase many times over the years, most notably in reference to the assassination of Julius Caesar. Here is a portion of the Wikipedia definition.

The Ides of March is a day on the Roman calendar that corresponds to 15 March. It was marked by several religious observances and became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. The death of Caesar made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history, as one of the events that marked the transition from the historical period known as the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire.

The Most Interesting Man in the World

And now we are confronting another transition of historical proportion. Dos Equis beer is sending The Most Interesting Man in the World on a one-way mission to Mars on Cinco de Mayo.

Back in 2009, the Most Interesting Man in the World appeared on the world stage, setting the male standard for being extraordinary. With his departure, wouldn’t it be amazing if The Most Interesting Woman in the World would come forward. I know she is out there.

St. Patrick’s Day (Thur., Mar. 17)

And as if you didn’t already know, this Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day. Please don’t drink and drive.

Spring Forward

Speaking of things you already know, and if you didn’t; I’m guessing you were late to work today.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

In Chapter 1 of my book, I stress the importance of diet in achieving an extraordinary life style. So when in a restaurant, please be careful about what you order, as well as how you pronounce your order.

On another note, there is a lot of diet advice out there, much of it offering a quick fix. I think you will find that anything that offers you a loss of more than a couple of pounds a week is not good for you in the long run.

When it comes to body image, I’ve always thought there is no one fix for everyone; and so does the April 2016 edition of Runners World, which said the following:

You are an experiment of one

No one else has to live your precise life, with your specific challenges, biochemistry, anatomy, injury history, calendar, boss, or family.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

In chapter 19 of my book, I urge you to embrace change for all the opportunities change can offer. Still many of you fear change. I think this basket I saw on the counter of a coffee shop could help those of you who fear change.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

In Chapter 25, I talk about the impossibility of winning an argument, even if you win. And in Chapter 36, I discuss of power of a smile. The following sums up those two chapters.

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

In Chapter 46, I discuss reading as an opportunity to learn from the greatest minds in recorded history. Plus, if you have a book with you; you will never be alone.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Fall of the Roman Republic

by Plutarch

Warning: This is not an easy to read book, but it has a lot of insights on six personalities associated with this period in history, told in a readable style.

The book consists of biographies of the following six people:

Marius
Sulla
Crassus
Pompey
Caesar
Cicero

And this books tells about their interactions with others such as Spartacus, Cleopatra, etc.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Cleopatra

This film came out in 1963 and I believe I saw it in 1965, when I was assistant manager of a U.S. Armed Forces theater in Tehran, Iran.

It has been a long time since I’ve watched this film; but given the Ides of March theme of this week’s post, I think I will watch it again.

(Source: Wikipedia) It received mixed reviews from critics, although critics and audiences alike generally liked Taylor and Burton’s performances. It was the highest grossing film of 1963, yet lost money due to production and marketing costs, making it the only film ever to be the highest grossing film of the year yet still lose money. Cleopatra later won four Academy Awards, and was nominated for five more, including Best Picture

LAST WEEK’S POLL – St. Patrick’s Day

Last week’s poll, asked about your St. Patrick’s Day plans.

The majority of us, 67%, plan to do nothing out of the ordinary; where, 28% of us plan to do something special related to St. Patrick’s Day. The remaining 5% of us said they were going to celebrate with friends.

No one plans to drink green beer and fortunately none of us plan on being arrested for drunk driving.

THIS WEEK POLL – When It Comes To Reading

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I think this is worth putting up with the brief commercial on this Hulu site to see this clip of Steve Martin performing King Tut on Saturday Night Live.

King Tut

by Steve Martin

http://www.hulu.com/watch/55342

ART OF THE WEEK

The Rosetta Stone

Here is a photo I took of the Rosetta Stone, while I was at the British Museum in London, England. The Rosetta Stone is famous for providing the key to understand Egyptian Hyrpographics.

The Rosetta Stone is a text written by a group of priests in Egypt to honour the Egyptian pharaoh, Ptolemy V. It lists all of the things he did, which were good for the priests and the people of Egypt. The Rosetta Stone was written in three scripts, so that the priests, government officials and rulers of Egypt could read what it said.

The first was hieroglyphic which was the script used for important or religious documents. The second was demotic which was the common script of Egypt. The third was Greek which was the language of the rulers of Egypt at that time.

The Rosetta Stone was carved in 196 B.C. and was found in 1799 by Napoleon’s soldiers, who were rebuilding a fort in Egypt. It is called the Rosetta Stone because it was discovered in a town called Rosetta (Rashid).

(Combination of Sources: http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/writing/rosetta.html and Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Julius Caesar

The Tusculum portrait, perhaps the only surviving statue created during Caesar’s Lifetime

Gaius Julius Caesar (13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman statesman, general and notable author of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Caesar’s victories in the Gallic Wars, completed by 51 BC, extended Rome’s territory to the English Channel and the Rhine. Caesar became the first Roman general to cross both when he built a bridge across the Rhine and conducted the first invasion of Britain.

These achievements granted him unmatched military power and threatened to eclipse the standing of Pompey, who had realigned himself with the Senate after the death of Crassus in 53 BC. With the Gallic Wars concluded, the Senate ordered Caesar to step down from his military command and return to Rome. Caesar refused the order, and instead marked his defiance in 49 BC by crossing the Rubicon with a legion, leaving his province and illegally entering Roman Italy under arms. Civil war resulted, and Caesar’s victory in the war put him in an unrivaled position of power and influence.

After assuming control of government, Caesar began a programme of social and governmental reforms, including the creation of the Julian calendar. He centralised the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed “dictator in perpetuity”, giving him additional authority. But the underlying political conflicts had not been resolved, and on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated by a group of rebellious senators led by Marcus Junius Brutus. A new series of civil wars broke out, and the constitutional government of the Republic was never fully restored. Caesar’s adopted heir Octavian, later known as Augustus, rose to sole power after defeating his opponents in the civil war. Octavian set about solidifying his power, and the era of the Roman Empire began.

(Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. Thank you Carolyn for commenting on last week’s post.

Sally, Tosha & Sandra, thank you for following this blog and bringing the total number of blog followers to 43. It is easy to follow, just click in the side bar area where it says “Follow Harmony Books & Films, LLC”.

I also have 61 people who have liked my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page. Again, it is easy enough to like my Facebook page, just click in the side bar area where there is a little photo of the cover of my book.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends. Thank you Joanne, Carol and Tim for sharing last week’s post on Facebook. Hopefully, more of you will continue to share this blog with others.

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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

03/07/16 – Death & Dance

March 7, 2016March 7, 2016 Wm. Allen2 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Death of Nancy Reagan

(Source: CNN) Former first lady Nancy Reagan, who joined her husband on a storybook journey from Hollywood to the White House, died Sunday.

She was 94 [and] died at her home in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure [ ].

“Mrs. Reagan will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who died on June 5, 2004. [ ]

As first lady during Ronald Reagan’s eight years in the White House, she was known as the “Just say no” spokeswoman of anti-drug campaigns, and as a fierce protector of her husband, both personally and politically. When Ronald Reagan was shot in a 1981 assassination attempt, Nancy Reagan never left the hospital where the president was treated until he was released [ ].

After she and her husband left Washington, she became his protector again as he struggled with Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 2004. After his death, she remained a staunch guardian of his image and legacy.

Tues., Mar. 1, Lord of the Dance

Folks, this was the third time over the last 20 years, that I saw Lord of the Dance and it has changed to reflect today’s technology, but it remains a great show and I urge you to see it, even if you have seen it before.

However, if you can’t see Lord of the Dance, I suggest you do what Carol did and see the less expensive Ord of the Dance.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

In Chapter 1 of my book, I stress the importance of diet in achieving an extraordinary life style. So please give some thought to what you are eating.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

In chapter 17 of my book, I mention you should be meticulous in telling the truth, but to not use that as authorization to be cruel.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

The focus of Chapter 25 of my book is on being trustworthy and trusting others, at least until they prove themselves untrustworthy.

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

In Chapter 37 I discuss how extraordinary people use their time wisely. We all receive the same twenty-four hours each day, but some make so much of that time and others make so little of it.

Miscellaneous

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

In Chapter 29 of my book, I warn about addictions. There are all kinds of additions.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

The Warrior Within

by John Little

I believe this book lives up to what it says on the cover, “The philosophies of Bruce Lee to better understand the world around you and achieve a rewarding life.”

Here is a taste from the book to whet your appetite. “On the one hand, there is natural instinct and on the other is control. You are to combine the two in harmony. For if you cultivate only one dimension, say natural instinct, you will be very unscientific. If you have the other to the extreme, you become all of a sudden a mechanical man, no longer a human being.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

IL POSTINO

How good is this movie. Well, the lead actor put off a heart operation to be in this film. He died before filming was over. I saw the film and thought the lead actor made a good decision.

If you ever wondered what was the deal with poetry, this film will show you in an entertaining way.

Warning, the version I saw was in Italian with English subtitles. That will turn some of you off. Please don’t feel bad if you decide not to watch this film because of the subtitles, since you probably wouldn’t like it anyway.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Encouragement

The first of last week’s two polls asked about you encouraging others.

And outstanding 76% of you have encouraged someone in the last week. That is absolutely fantastic. Another 19% of you have encouraged someone in the last two weeks and the remaining 5% have encouraged someone in the last month.

The second of last week’s two polls asked about you receiving encouragement.

Fifty percent of you have received encouragement from someone in the last week. Another 22% of us , I am sorry to say have not received encouragement in a while. While still another 17% of you have received encouragement within the last two weeks. The remaining 11% of you have received encouragement in the last month.

THIS WEEK POLL – St. Patrick’s Day

This weeks poll is on your St. Patrick’s Day plans.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

This week I started to show a February 1958 video of a dance called the Stroll. I recall watching it on American Bandstand after I got home from school each week day. I thought it was so cool, but then I recall in the 70s how much I enjoyed watching an updated version of the Stroll on Soul Train. I did a search to find that version. To my surprise, I found someone had already put these two versions of the Stroll together. I hope you get half as much of a kick out of this stroll down memory lane as I did.

Soul train vs. The Stroll

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wwlz1FGNu8

ART OF THE WEEK

La Chateau des Pyrenees (translation: The Castle of the Pyrenees)

by René Magritte

René Magritte is my favorite artist, although I believe he considered himself a philosopher, who just happen to communicate via painting rather than words. I have had a copy of this painting hanging in my home for decades.

La Chateau des Pyrenees [ ] is truly a surreal painting. The Chateau (castle) sits perched on top of a large mountain floating above a large body of water. [ ]

The levitation of such a large rock literally defies gravity. There are some points to consider here. By the fact that the mountain is in the air, it has no foundation. It was once part of the Earth yet it is now separate. How does one enter such a castle? There is no path up the mountain. It is unreachable by land and by sea. It can only be reached by air and by the imagination.

It is always important to consider the title of any painting, in this case, La Chateau des Pyrenees. Something can always be learned from a painting’s title. The Pyrenees are a range of mountains in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. Etymology: According to Greek mythology the Pyrenees are named after Pyrene (fire in Greek) the daughter of Bebryx, who was raped by Hercules. She got pregnant and, the next morning, Hercules was drunk in a slumber. She then stabbed him, and went into hiding. Bebryx, thinking her dead and not knowing exactly where she was, built a great tomb for her; the Pyrenees. [ ]

The concept of a floating city appears repeatedly in science fiction literature and drama. In the Star Trek episode, “The Cloud Minders (1969),” Stratos is a fictional floating city on the planet Ardana and ruled by High Advisor Plasus. And the Cloud City is a floating city on Bespin, a fictional planet in the Star Wars universe managed by Lando Calrissian (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back; 1980).

(Source: http://rene-magritte-paintings.blogspot.com/2009/11/la-chateau-des-pyrenees.html )

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Bill Murray

Can there be any doubt that the fellow who was in two of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day and Scrooged is an extraordinary person.

I did a number of internet searches and the story below about Bill Murray appears to me to be true and his actions do not surprise me.

Would not the world be a wonderful place if we all did acts like this.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

Warning & Disclaimer – Guys, this blog is not a substitute for advice from qualified professions and I expressly disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects, damages, or other negative consequences arising from the following advice 🙂

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. Thank you Spiritual Journey, Carol, Judith, Elizabeth and Glenda for commenting on last week’s post.

I now have two more people or 40 in all, who are following this blog, thanks to Elizabeth & Glenda, who started following this blog last week. It is easy to follow, just click in the side bar area where it says “Follow Harmony Books & Films, LLC”.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends. Thank you Joanne and Pat for sharing last week’s post on Facebook. Hopefully, more of you will continue to share this blog with others.

And I am please to report that for the month of February 2015 this blog had 153 views and for February 2016 we had 579 views or well over three times the amount of views.

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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

02/29/16 – Can Somebody Attack Me Please

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016 Wm. Allen10 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Thursday, Feb. 25 Republican Debate

GOP candidates at the CNN GOP presidential debate in Houston, Texas on February 25, 2016.

Every so often I have encouraged you folks to watch the Presidential Debates. In case you missed last Thursday’s debate, I thought The Skimm http://www.theskimm.com/?r=66879149 did such an extraordinary recap of the debate that I wanted you to see it, so here it is:

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR CO-WORKER COMES IN WITH A HEADACHE…You watched the debate too? Last night was the 10,000th GOP debate, and the last one before Super Tuesday next week. CNN refereed. And even though five candidates were on stage, it was a three-man fight between frontrunner Donald Trump, Sen. Marco Rubio (FL), and Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) .

They went at it on immigration. Rubio hit Trump for allegedly employing undocumented workers in the past. To which the Donald reminded the stage that he’s the “only one” who’s hired people before. They went at it on healthcare. Rubio repeatedly asked Trump ‘what’s your plan.’ To which Trump finally said ‘Plan. You can’t handle the plan.’ And didn’t elaborate.

Then the Ghost of Mitt Romney appeared and made everybody say when they’re releasing their tax returns. Soon, Mittens. Soon. They talked Apple. And Cruz thinks the Constitution wants the Fruit to take a bite out of that iPhone for the FBI.

Gov. John Kasich (OH) wants everyone to stop yelling and use their quiet voices. And then Dr. Ben Carson asked “Can somebody attack me please?” End scene.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

Which came first, the chicken or the egg is an age-old question. Sometimes we think if we just changed our look, our life would change. Perhaps, if we changed our life, our look would change.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

In chapter 18 of my book, I talk about the importance of detachment to both objects and relationships. Sometimes you just have to let things go to allow space for new things to come into your life.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

In chapter 29 of my book I talk about the importance of communications in getting along with others. Here is something to think about.

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

It is common to buy items that call for assembling before using. The manufacturer of these items include a strategy for putting the item to gather. It is important for you to study these assembly directions before you begin putting the item together. For almost every item I have ever tried to put together, I found I needed a screwdriver as pointed out below.

Miscellaneous

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

In the last chapter of my book I stress the importance of enjoying the journey and don’t be overly concerned about the destination.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Fit From Within

by Victoria Moran

This isn’t your typical diet book, which is why I am suggesting you read it if you have any interest in changing your body and your life.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Hail, Caesar

Four-time Oscar (R)-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men, True Grit, Fargo) write and direct Hail, Caesar!, an all-star comedy set during the latter years of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Channing Tatum, Hail, Caesar! follows a single day in the life of a studio fixer who is presented with plenty of problems to fix. (Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Clutter

Last week’s poll asked you if you were conscious of and if you make an effort to rid yourself of various types of clutter.

Twenty-three percent of us try to rid ourselves of harmful habits and toxic relationships.

Another 21% of us try to rid ourselves of beliefs that are no longer right for the world we live in today.

Eighteen percent of us try to discard physical objects that no longer serve a purpose and another 14% try to rid themselves of electronic files that no longer serve a purpose.

When it comes to grading our efforts, 53% gave ourselves a C, noting we have less clutter than many, but still have work to do.

Another 26% of us gave ourselves a D, knowing we have a lot of cutter but unable to get rid of it.

Eighteen percent of us gave ourselves a B, saying we have a minimum amount of clutter and are working of getting rid of it.

Five percent of us gave ourselves an E, saying everything is a mess

And no one gave themselves an A, saying it is rare that they find clutter and if they do, they are quick to eliminate it.

THIS WEEK POLL – Encouragement

What you send out to the world. often returns to you. This weeks poll is on encouraging others and being encouraged yourself.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Here is something a bit different from what I usually suggest. I hope you like it.

Kristin Andreassen is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, old time musician and educator. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York,[1] she started her music career as a professional clogger with Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble and in the early 2000s joined the folk bands Uncle Earl and Sometymes Why as a vocalist, dancer, songwriter, guitarist.

In 2007 she released her first solo album, Kiss Me Hello, which was produced by Mark Schatz (Nickel Creek). The opening track “Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color for Your Eyes” won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the Children’s Category,[2] also becoming a hit on children’s radio despite the fact that the overall album was intended for adult listeners. (Source: Wikipedia)

Crayola Doesn’t Make A Color For Your Eyes

by Kristin Andreassen

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

ART OF THE WEEK

Sky and Water I

by M. C. Escher

Leonard Slain, in his book, Art & Physics, Our Western mind [ ] has never yet devised a concept, not even a name for the union of opposites through the middle path …

Sky and Water I is a woodcut print by the Dutch artist M. C. Escher first printed in June 1938.

The basis of this print is a regular division of the plane consisting of birds and fish. Both prints have the horizontal series of these elements—fitting into each other like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle—in the middle, transitional portion of the prints. In this central layer the pictorial elements are equal: birds and fish are alternately foreground or background, depending on whether the eye concentrates on light or dark elements. The birds take on an increasing three-dimensionality in the upward direction, and the fish, in the downward direction. But as the fish progress upward and the birds downward they gradually lose their shapes to become a uniform background of sky and water, respectively.

According to Escher: “In the horizontal center strip there are birds and fish equivalent to each other. We associate flying with sky, and so for each of the black birds the sky in which it is flying is formed by the four white fish which encircle it. Similarly swimming makes us think of water, and therefore the four black birds that surround a fish become the water in which it swims.”

This print has been used in physics, geology, chemistry, and in psychology for the study of visual perception. In the pictures a number of visual elements unite into a simple visual representation, but separately each forms a point of departure for the elucidation of a theory in one of these disciplines. (Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Richard Chacon

I suspect everyone is extraordinary to someone. I met Chacon at work back in 1981, and it turned out that we were both training for the Detroit Marathon.

He was in my view an artist and an extraordinary person. A few years later, he returned to NYC. I recall my last telephone conversation with him sometime in the mid-1980s. He had cancer, had checked himself out of the hospital and went home and tried curing himself by watching funny movies.

He died, but he died with extraordinary style. Thirty years later, I still occasionally think of him.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

This one is for those of you that enjoy history or furniture 🙂

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. Thank you Spiritual Journey, Carol, Judith, Carolyn and Tania for commenting on last week’s post.

Currently, I have 38 people who are following this blog, thanks to Renxkyoko, who started following this blog last week. It is easy to follow, just click in the side bar area where it says “Follow Harmony Books & Films, LLC”.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends. Thank you Valda, Melisa, Nandini and Viswarupa for sharing last week’s post on Facebook. Hopefully, more of you will continue to share this blog with others.

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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

02/22/16 – An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

February 22, 2016February 22, 2016 Wm. Allen10 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Apple’s Position on Privacy

http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/

SELF-HELP BOOKS

1984

by George Orwell

I read George Orwell’s 1984 long before 1984 and I recall 1984 coming and passing without the dire prediction being fulfilled. Obviously, Orwell was mistaken. The only question is was the prediction wrong or the title?

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Honor Thy Temple

Isn’t it true that there is always another diet coming out and I guess most of them work in the short-term, but I don’t think they work in the long run for most people because there is a constant stream of diet books coming out.

Well, here is a diet that I think will help you in both the short-run and the long-run. Please give it a try.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

When I started my professional career, I was advised to “Never let the lack of ability stand in my way.” Initially, I sort of suspected that I was being tactfully insulted. However, like many pearls of wisdom; it takes a while to really know and understand a piece of wisdom. As time went on, I saw that many people kept letting self-doubt prevent them from reaching new heights, while someone less ready took advantage of the opportunity.

Miscellaneous

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

Cats were once considered gods by some. And I have heard that cats have never forgotten that. So, perhaps it is worth considering advice from a cat.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Android Commercial

I come across commercials that have more message to them, than many feature-length films, so I just have to share them with you.

I have long been a believer in diversity for no other reason than if you give it a chance, you will see its benefits in your own life. However, it is hard to articulate this truth so that it reaches the mind, heart and soul of others.

I thought this Android commercial took a novel approach to communicating the value of diversity. Please give it a chance by clicking on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLhJIFC8xkY

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Self Improvement

Last week’s poll asked you about your thoughts towards self-improvement.

An overwhelming 60% of you try to improve yourself, but a shocking 40% of you don’t try to improve yourself. Perhaps, you are already perfect, so there is no need for improvement efforts.

And 23% of you try to help others, “who want to improve themselves.” That last phrase, “who want to improve themselves” is key. As they say, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. They also say, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

There is a sizable minority, 14%, among us that view self-improvement as a moral obligation.

And alas, there is a small minority of us, 3%, that are simply not interested in self-improvement. Well, if nothing else, they are honest.

THIS WEEK POLL – Clutter

As the quote below illustrates, there are many different kinds of clutter. So please keep this in mind when you respond to this week’s poll and again you may check more than one answer.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Smokey Robinson turned 76 on February 19, so in appreciation for his providing a song track for our lives, this week if you want to hear something moving, just click on the link below Smokey’s photo.

Tracks of My Tears

by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwkZrj2VT4

ART OF THE WEEK

Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2

by Marcel Duchamp

Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 (French) is a 1912 painting by Marcel Duchamp. The work is widely regarded as a Modernist classic and has become one of the most famous of its time.

Before its first presentation at the Parisian 1912 Salon des Indépendants, it was rejected by the Cubists as too Futurist. Yet the work was exhibited with the same group at Galeries J. Dalmau, Exposició d’Art Cubista, in Barcelona, 20 April–10 May 1912, and subsequently caused a huge stir during its exhibition at the 1913 Armory Show in New York.

Nude Descending a Staircase is in the Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Source: Wikipedia)

I understand that Teddy Roosevelt compared this painting to a Navaho rug. Whereas, Julian Street called it, “an explosion in a shingle factory.” But my all time favorite critical comment was by a critic who described it as “a staircase descending a nude.”

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Colin Coleman

I’ve always like the saying, “If the job will not bring honor to me, I will bring honor to the job.” Colin Coleman has proved the truth of this saying.

An Indianapolis supermarket employee is getting recognized for going above and beyond.

A shopper at the Kroger Supermarket at 65th Street and Keystone Avenue snapped a picture of an employee helping a blind man shop.

“Truly, I do anything to help people,” said Colin Coleman, the employee in the photo. “They (visually impaired people) usually don’t particularly want people helping them, but I wanted to help him anyway.”

The interaction happened during Sunday’s snow storm.

Coleman has worked at the Kroger for a year. His job is to bag groceries, clean, push carts and stock. But yesterday even his boss says he went above beyond.

“It’s something that he does all the time, not just yesterday. But he’s always taking care of the customer,” said Andrew Fair, the store’s general manager.

“[It’s] real customer service, I think,” said Ashlee Fujawa, who witnessed Coleman’s kind act and posted the picture to Facebook. “Beyond that, it’s just person-to-person connection. You see someone in need and you can fill that need. How wonderful [it would be] if we all started to do that.”

Colin’s even plowed the parking lot yesterday, when all he was asked to do was retrieve carts, his manager said.

“Basically anything that has to be done, I do it,” Coleman said.

To acknowledge what Coleman did for the blind customer, Fair presented him with a customer service award Monday. The award is usually reserved for entire department. Coleman is the first individual to be presented with it.

“I wish I had 125 Colins doing the exact same thing because that’s what it’s all about; it’s all about the customer. We wouldn’t be here if weren’t for them,” Fair said. (Source: INDIANAPOLIS (WISH TV Channel 8)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. Thank you Sue & Carol for commenting on last week’s post.

Currently, I have 37 people who are following this blog. It is easy to follow, just click in the side bar area where it says “Follow Harmony Books & Films, LLC”.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends. In January 2015, this blog was viewed 214 times and this January it was viewed 608 times, which was a very encouraging increase. Hopefully, you folks will continue to share this blog with others.

I appreciate Rachel, Joanne, Lestra y Carol; who shared 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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

02/15/16 – Where Do You Go To My Lovely

February 15, 2016 Wm. Allen4 Comments

Note: If you don’t look at anything else, at least please check out the song of the week. I believe it will be well worth your while.

CURRENT EVENTS

Yesterday’s Valentine Day

Folks, the chart below shows two different ways of celebrating Valentine Day. You have one year to prepare for Valentine Day 2017–I trust it will be as good, if not better than this year’s Valentine Day.

Last Saturday’s Republican Debate

Folks, if you missed this, you missed some great theater.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

The Peter Prescription

by Dr. Laurence J. Peter

This sequel to The Peter Principle is more than a book on management. To me, it is an entertaining self-help book, crammed with interesting quotes such as “Our bodies are apt to be our autobiographies” by F. Burgess or “A girl who is easy to get may be hard to take.” by F. Wisely.

The book came out in 1972, but just the above two quotes indicates things really haven’t changed that much from 1972, so the book is still good reading.

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

I’m thankful that I was in Florence and saw this magnificent Statue of David, before it went to the USA.

SOCIAL TRAITS

LEARNING TRAITS

In chapter 40 I talk about seeing and hearing what is there, rather than what we want to be there.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Zoolander 2

Please leave your brain at home, when you go to see this movie. It is a great way to relax and forget any problems you may have.

LAST WEEK’S POLL -Valentine Day

Last week’s poll asked you about your Valentine Day plans.

It turns out that 49% of us are doing something special with someone, 33% of us are giving someone a card and 11% of us are giving someone a gift.

The remaining 7% are doing nothing out of the ordinary. As I mentioned under the Current Events section, you have one year to prepare for Valentine Day 2017. Chapter 20 of my book is devoted to the importance of celebrating holidays, your success and the successes of your friends.

THIS WEEK POLL – Self Improvement

This week’s poll is about your thoughts on self-provement. You may check more than one answer.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I really think investing a few minutes of your time to hear this song will pay you some significant dividends. Please tell me via comments, if you think I am mistaken.

Where Do You Go to My Lovely

by Peter Sarstedt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8JOi1q5ugs

ART OF THE WEEK

Princezna Hyancinta

byAlphonse Mucha

I gained an appreciation of this artist a couple of years ago, while in the Czech Republic, an absolutely wonderful place to visit. In Chapter 48 of my book I stress the importance of going to places that you have never been.

Alphonse Mucha (24 July 1860 – 14 July 1939), was a Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist, known best for his distinct style. He produced many paintings, illustrations, advertisements, pens and pencils, postcards, and designs.(Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot; born 28 September 1934, is a French former actress, singer and fashion model, who later became an animal rights activist. She was one of the best known sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s.

Bardot retired from the entertainment industry in 1973. During her career in show business, she starred in 47 films, performed in several musical shows and recorded over 60 songs. After her retirement, she established herself as an animal rights activist.

She was the subject of Simone de Beauvoir’s 1959 essay, The Lolita Syndrome, which described Bardot as a “locomotive of women’s history” and built upon existentialist themes to declare her the first and most liberated woman of post-war France.

(Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends and had too many.

Knowing full well that I had drank well over the legal limit, I did something I had never done before. I took a taxi home.

It was a good thing that I did, because there was a police sobriety road block set up on my path home. However, since I was in a taxi, the police simply waved me through the road block.

I arrived safely home, which was a relief, since I had never driven a taxi before and was not sure where I had got the taxi.

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. Thank you Judith, Ron, Jennifer and Julia for commenting on last week’s post.

I now have 37 people who are following this blog, with the addition this week of Chris.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends, as well as liking my Facebook page. Currently, 61 of you have been kind enough to like my Facebook page.

I appreciate Joanne, who again shared 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 can be purchased 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.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

02/08/16 – Love

February 8, 2016 Wm. Allen8 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Valentine Day

This Coming Sunday, Feb. 14

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Don Juan DeMarco

by Jean Blake White

This week I am recommending a book that is based upon a movie. How superficial am I? Usually, movies are based on books. Still, it is a fantastic and entertaining love story fitting for Valentine Day. Plus, as usual, it is an easy read. The hardest part about reading this book will be finding it, but I believe it will be well worth the hunt. Or you can go the even easier route and simply watch the movie.

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

Your thinking can have an impact on your health.

SOCIAL TRAITS

LEARNING TRAITS

In chapter 40 I talk about seeing and hearing what is there, rather than what we want to be there.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Love Actually

Although technically, a Christmas romance film, I believe it is still a good film to watch for Valentine Day.

Love Actually is a 2003 British Christmas-themed romantic comedy film. The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress. Set primarily in London, the story begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday, followed by an epilogue that takes place one month later. (Source: Wikipedia)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Groundhog Day

Last week’s poll asked if you were doing anything special for Groundhog Day.

It turns out that 59% of us are not going to do anything special for Groundhog Day; however, 27% of us have done something special in the past. Regarding the film Groundhog Day, 9% of us watched it, and 5% of us closely follow the weather predictions of a large rodent. None of us plan to do anything special for Groundhog Day this year.

The weather was so nice here in the Detroit area that I could help thinking if the weather would have been a bit more cooperative in the past I would have continued holding my Groundhog Day Happy Hour parties, but the weather was always so iffy and I recall once I even had to cancel the party.

THIS WEEK POLL – Valentine Day

This week’s poll is about your plans for Valentine Day.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Some my disagree, but I think this is the best love song of all time. But perhaps I should sleep on it 🙂

Paradise By The Dashboard Light

by Meat Loaf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C11MzbEcHlw

ART OF THE WEEK

The Lovers

by Rene Magritte

This is a painting that I actually saw at the MOMA in NYC.

The Lovers is a painting by [ ] surrealist Rene Magritte, created in 1928.

The painting depicts a veiled couple embracing and kissing. Obviously symbolic, many have speculated about why the couple is veiled. Many have also interpreted the painting in different ways – the common interpretation being “Love is blind”.

The Lovers can be viewed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. (Source: http://www.Artpromtivate.com).

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Lord Byron

Portrait of Lord Byron by Richard Westall

George Gordon Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was an English poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement. Among Byron’s best-known works are the lengthy narrative poems Don Juan and Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, and the short lyric “She Walks in Beauty”.

Byron is regarded as one of the greatest British poets, and remains widely read and influential. He travelled widely across Europe, especially in Italy where he lived for seven years. Later in life, Byron joined the Greek War of Independence fighting the Ottoman Empire, for which many Greeks revere him as a national hero. He died one year later at age 36 from a fever contracted while in Missolonghi.

Often described as the most flamboyant and notorious of the major Romantics, Byron was both celebrated and castigated in life for his aristocratic excesses, including huge debts, numerous love affairs with men as well as women, rumours of a scandalous liaison with his half-sister, and self-imposed exile. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

A woman was walking along the beach when she stumbled upon a Genie’s lamp. She picked it up and rubbed it and lo-and-behold, a Genie appeared. The amazed woman asked if she got three wishes.

The Genie said, “Nope, due to inflation, constant downsizing, low wages in third world countries, and fierce global competition, I can only grant you one
wish. So what’ll it be?”

The woman didn’t hesitate. She said, “I want peace in the Middle East. See this map. I want these countries to stop fighting with each other.”

The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, “Gadzooks lady! These countries have been at war for thousands of years. I’m good, but not
that good! Please make another wish”.

The woman thought for a minute and said “Well, I’ve never been able to find the right man; one that’s considerate and fun, likes to cook and helps with the housecleaning, is good in bed and gets along
with my family, doesn’t watch sports all the time, and is faithful.”

The Genie let out a long sigh and said, “Let me see that map again.”

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. Thank you Carolyn.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends, as well as liking my Facebook page. Thank you M.J. Shepard for liking my Facebook page.

I appreciate Joanne, who shared my post last week on Facebook.

MY BOOK

If you have any interest in changing your life for helping someone else change their life, please consider my book.

Again, for those of you into reading books on a Kindle, I reduced the price of the Kindle version of my book down to $4.95.

My book can be purchased on-line from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. It is also available in a ebook format. And if you have read my book, please leave an evaluation of it on Amazon. Thank you.

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

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885