02/01/16 – Mary Ellen Stanley

February 1, 2016 Wm. Allen2 Comments

MARY ELLEN STANLEY

Recently, there has been a number of deaths of famous people in the music industry and of course those deaths touch us. However, when a friend dies, it not only touches you, it leaves a big hole in your life. It is with great sadness that I am reporting that Mary Ellen Stanley died last week. She was a wonderful person with so many friends. Some of you who attended my happy hour parties will no doubt remember her and the clever costumes that Mary Ellen and her husband Dean came up with each year.

Below is Mary Ellen’s mother, Mary Ellen and Mary Ellen’s daughter

(Three generations)

CURRENT EVENTS

Flint, MI Water

In 2014, the city of Flint, MI left the Detroit water system to save cash money during tight times. Instead, it started taking water from a local river. This was all well and good until people noticed that their water looked and smelled bad. And children’s blood tests started showing higher levels of lead, which can cause serious health and developmental issues for children. Not good. (Source: http://www.theSkimm.com)

This week I was in South Beach, Florida. Florida is a state that attracts flocks of Michigan snowbirds. I found the restaurants in South Beach go out of their way to cater to people from Michigan. When I asked for some water, the waiter was thoughtful enough to bring me some bottled Flint, Michigan water that they kept on hand for Michigan residents.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Philosophy for Everyday Life

by Trevor Curnow

This is as easy to read as a philosophy book can be and I believe it lives up to the description below that this book can improve your thinking about everyday life. If you want to be extraordinary, you need to think clearly.

This book will show how philosophy can help to improve your thinking about everyday life. And by improving the quality of your thinking, you can improve the quality of your life. It will make you more aware of what you think and why—and how you can change what you think. (Source: Amazon)

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

If you care at all about your health, you must start reading the labels on the food that you purchase. If some of those ingredients sounds like poison, well maybe you better do some more research before you eat something containing strange sounding ingredients.

Perhaps, you may even want to so so far as to send some of what you are considering eating to a lab.

SOCIAL TRAITS

In my book under Social Traits, in Chapter 28, I stress the importance of surrounding yourself with people different from you. Doing so not only makes your life more interesting, but also exposes you to ideas and experiences that will benefit you. Most of all, doing so will make the world a better place for you and for everyone.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

I believe truth trumps any prior statements that a person may have made and if new evidence or new understanding comes to our attention, we should not be locked into past statements. It seems someone else agrees with me.

My aim is not to be consistent with my previous statements on a given question, but to be consistent with the truth as it may present itself to me at a given moment.

Source: Mahatma Gandhi

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Groundhog Day

Sure, I selected this film in part, because tomorrow (February 2) is Groundhog Day. But I think the movie is also consistent with the purpose of this blog, which is to make your life something other than just ordinary.

This movie is about a guy who lives the same day over and over until he gets it right.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Spanish or Español

Regarding the first poll last week, 40% believe the USA is already started to unofficially adopt the Spanish language. Another 20% of you believe Spanish will one day in the distant future become one of the two official languages of the USA and 20% believe adopting Spanish will tie us closer together with Central and South America. Whereas, only 20% thought that adopting Spanish as an official language of the USA was a bad idea.

In the second poll, 35% of us have taken a Spanish class and 31% of us have a little familiarity with the Spanish language. Another 15% of us can get by with our Spanish in a Spanish speaking country and 7% are fluent in Spanish. Whereas, only 12% of us have no understanding of Spanish.

And in the third poll, when it comes to visiting Spanish speaking countries:

Mexico – 27%

Spain – 24%

Miami – 19%

South America – 11%

Central America – 5%

Never been to a Spanish speaking country – 14%

THIS WEEK POLL – Groundhog Day

This week’s poll is on Groundhog Day, which is tomorrow (February 2).

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Since I just returned from Miami, who else but Pitbull

Back in Time by Pitbull

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaSZE194D4I

ART OF THE WEEK

Art on the Road: Miami

by Ken Kaminsky

This is a painting of the Beacon Hotel in the Art Deco Hotel district that we stayed at while in South Beach. If you would like to see more of Ken’s work about Miami, just click on the link below.

http://blog.kenkaminesky.com/2013/02/18/art-on-the-road-miami/

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Juan Ponce de León

Juan Ponce de León (1474 – July 1521) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. He led the first known European expedition to La Florida, which he named, and is associated with the legend of the Fountain of Youth, supposed to be in Florida. [Source: Wikipedia]

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

An old guy was working out at the gym when he spotted a young hot girl walking in.

He asked the trainer standing next to him, “What machine should I use to impress that girl over there?”

The trainer looked him up and down and said; “I would recommend the ATM in the lobby.”

BLOG

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

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.

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

I appreciate the following people who shared my post on Facebook: Theresa, Joanne, Carol y Andre

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

01/25/16 – Take It Easy

January 24, 2016January 28, 2016 Wm. Allen2 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Glenn Frey

Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist for Eagles, died last Monday. He was 67.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016,” the band said in a statement. “Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide.”

Frey wrote and provided vocals for many Eagles hits, including “Heartache Tonight,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Tequila Sunrise” and “Take It Easy.”

Source: Alex Stedman, News Editor, Variety.com

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Now is the Time

by Patrick Lindsay

This is another quick read, that I believe you will enjoy if you are interested in self-improvement.

This collection of short reflections will remind you to live your passion, take time out, and expand your horizons. Each page suggests a way to be mindful of the here and now, helping you to recall the value of taking action in the present-and following through. (Source: Amazon)

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

As important and as necessary as exercise is to a healthy body and mind, we have to keep in mind the harm caused by excess weight. Remember, what you eat typically trumps exercise. You are highly unlikely to be able to exercise off poor food choices.

Frequent eating in restuarants is often a cause of excessive weight, so it is important of you to study the menu carefully and make good food choices. However, many restaurants dare not tell you how many calories are in their dishes and some even tell you less about what they are serving.

SOCIAL TRAITS

In my book under Social Traits, in Chapter 30, I state that it is not possible to win an argument. Even in the unlikely event the other party to the argument admits you won, you have probably only won the other party’s animosity towards you.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Since the subject of the above Social Traits section is arguments, I thought I should provide a helpful quote for all you fellows out there.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Not in this Weather

Many people in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are suffering from power outages and being stranded on the highways due to Winter Storm Jonas. Weather reporting has been intensive and hopefully most people heeded the warnings to stock up on supplies and to stay off the roads.

Of course, as this short and clever commercial shows, some people simply will not stay off the roads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krhB_An8fT4

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Questions About This Blog

The first question was have you ever passed this blog on to others. My thanks to the 58% of you who have passed this blog on to others and I wish the remaining 42% would let me know why they haven’t.

The second question was have you ever read a book, watched a movie or listened to music that was recommended. Five percent of you have never done any of the above. However, 48% of you have watched a recommended movie, 29% of you have read a recommended book and 19% of you have listed to recommended music.

Regardless of your answers, I appreciate everyone who answered last week’s poll.

THIS WEEK POLL – Spanish or Español

Canada has two official languages, English and French. The vast majority of countries to the south of the USA, speak Spanish with Brazil being the major exceptions, so I thought it would be interesting to see where the readers of this poll stand with regard to the Spanish language. Three polls follow and you can answer more than once to each of these three polls. Muchas gracias.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I received many nice comments about last week’s music – Pachelbel’s Canon. If you were one of those who liked it, than you really should think about obtaining this album. It is the Canon performed by various artists in their own style.

Take It Easy by The Eagles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhH3mRkKDX8

ART OF THE WEEK

I Keep Smelling Things To See If They Smell Like You

by Kurt Halsey Frederickson

I saw this painting years ago in the newspaper and went to the gallery where it was being displayed. I never dreamed that it would be available for sale, but it was and I bought it.

I’ve shown this painting to many people, but only one person ever made the rather remarkable comment about something being contrary to reason. I would enjoy hearing via a blog comment if you have any thoughts about what was that remarkable comment.

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Johann Pachelbel

BORN:

In Nuremberg, Germany, probably sometime in August 1653 (he was baptised on the 1st September).
DIED:
In Nuremberg, probably in early March 1706 (he was buried on the 9th March).

BURIED:
St Rochus Cemetery in Nuremberg.

TYPE OF MUSIC:
Classical music from the baroque period.

A FAMOUS PIECE:
Canon in D.
THE SORT OF MUSIC HE WROTE:
Keyboard music (especially organ).
Choral (sung) music for the church.
Chamber music (music for a small number of instruments).

SOME INTERESTING FACTS:
He was very popular when he was alive.
He is only really known for one piece of music today—the Canon in D. However this piece is verypopular. Even people who don’t know much classical music will often know this piece.
Most of his music was written for the church.
A lot of his music has been lost.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking the following seven people for leaving a comment. They are Carolyn, Elena, Spiritual Journey, Judith, Ron, Carole, and Tania.

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

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.

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

01/18/16 – Sometimes Not Winning is Better Than Winning

January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 Wm. Allen15 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Not Winning The P0werball Jackpot

All of us but three, didn’t win the big Powerball jackpot; but, maybe we are the real winners after viewing the picture below.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

The Ultimate Gift

by Jim Stovall

This is another easy to read, self-help book that I am recommending. On the cover it says, “What would you be willing to do in order to inherit one billion dollars?

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

I have consistently expressed my concern for your health and the importance of exercise. You have to make some time for exercise–no excuses. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise, since you can receive the majority of benefits from exercise by simply walking.

To get you started walking for exercise, you may want to consider using an exercise block like the one below.

SOCIAL TRAITS

In my book under Social Traits, in Chapter 28, I stress the importance of bringing more diversity into your life. The next time you do something with a group of friends, look around at the people surrounding you. Are they diverse in various ways. If not, you are missing out.

Click on the link below and ask yourself, would you want to miss out on this because you don’t have enough diversity in your life?

https://www.facebook.com/SilentDesi/videos/10203696555587230/?fref=nf

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

What do you value in your life and does the allocation of your time reflect those values?

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Exporting Raymond

I recently watched Exporting Raymond and found it a fun picture to watch. When I decided to watch the film, I had no idea I was going to learn so much about Russia. What could be better, some fun entertainment, plus learning something.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Powerball

The vast majority of us will either buy one ticket (29%) or between two and five tickets (29%).

And 23% of us don’t plan to even buy at ticket; whereas, 18% of us will buy more than five tickets.

THIS WEEK POLL – Questions About This Blog

Every so often I like to get a reading on the impact if any, that this blog has on you. I hope you will participate in this week’s poll and I encourage you to comment on what this blog is doing right or what it could do better.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I want to introduce some variety into the weekly musical selections, so I thought maybe some classical music this week. When I mentioned classical music, perhaps, some of you had the following in mind?

I really hope you give this piece of classical music a brief try. I think it is nothing short of absolutely amazing.

Canon by Pachelbel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlprozGcs80

ART OF THE WEEK

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., southwest of the National Mall. The official address of the monument, 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W., commemorates the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law.

Covering four acres and including a statue of King by sculptor Lei Yixin, the memorial opened to the public on August 22, 2011, after more than two decades of planning, fund-raising and construction.

Although this is not the first memorial to an African American in Washington, D.C., King is the first African American honored with a memorial on or near the National Mall and only the fourth non-President to be memorialized in such a way. The King Memorial is administered by the National Park Service (Source: Wikipedia).

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Who else would I select on today! Plus, we also have some words of wisdom. If we cannot do something great, at least we can do something in a great way.

Those words of wisdom, remind me of this Roman general; whom the Roman Senate feared was becoming too popular with the common people. So, the Senate took him from the battle field and placed him in charge of collecting Rome’s garbage. The general said, “If the work will not bring honor to me, I will bring honor to the work.” Needless to say, the general did such a good job cleaning up Rome’s garbage that he became even more popular with the common folk.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking Carol, Rick, Elena, Spiritual Journey, Little Wolf, and Sue for leaving a comment.

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

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.

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

01/11/16 – $1.3 Billion Powerball

January 11, 2016 Wm. Allen12 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

P0werball

This Wednesday’s Powerball drawing is now up to $1.3 billion, so I thought I would present something that shows you how to read your Powerball ticket.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Compelling People

by John Neffinger & Matthew Kohut

In your quest to become extraordinary, it will be beneficial if you understand personal magnetism. Compelling People provides a lot of information about what makes a person engaging and what makes a person forgettable. This is information you can use to assess yourself and eliminate any of your traits that may be turning people off as well as develop traits that my attract people to you.

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

I, like many of you, made a New Years resolution to lose weight this year. You just have to look around many places in the USA to see people are killing themselves with their food choices. Two of the worse food choices are white flour and sugar.

Many of us when setting a weight goal, turn to height weight charts, so I thought I would provide you some information on how to interpert these charts.

SOCIAL TRAITS

In my book under Social Traits, in Chapter 30, I stress that there is never anything to be gained from arguing with someone. Many arguments are simply over opinions and people have all sorts of opinions and they are entitled to those opinions, even if mistaken. Perhaps, the following will help you remember that.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Chapter 18 of my book talks about detachment to both objects and relationships. The C. S. Lewis quote below illustrates the point I was making.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Some of my friends who knew me in my younger days used to say I sold out when I went to work for a large corporation. I replied, “Yes, but I got a good price.” I think you will get a kick out of this film about selling out or is it buying in?

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (commonly shortened to The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) is a 2011 documentary film about product placement, marketing and advertising directed by Morgan Spurlock. The premise behind the production is that the documentary itself would be entirely paid for by sponsors, thus being a form of metafilm. The film’s slogan is “He’s not selling out, he’s buying in”. (Source: Wikipedia)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – 2016

The vast majority of you (84%) believe 2016 will be a better year than 2015.

A much smaller number of you (11%) believe 2016 will be about the same as last year.

And an even smaller number of you (5%) believe 2016 will be worse than 2015.

THIS WEEK POLL – Powerball

I came up with 1.3 billion reasons to make Powerball the subject of this week’s poll.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Let’s Dancing by David Bowie

In recognition of the recent passing of David Bowie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4d7Wp9kKjA

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

I conducted a poll of last week’s painting and 72% of you initially saw a young woman, whereas, 28% of you initially saw an old woman. Hopefully, eventually you saw both women in that picture. I hope this little exercise helps you appreciate that two people can view the identical thing or situation and yet come away with completely opposite understandings of what they just viewed.

I’ve often heard it said, that we see things not as they are, but as we are.

The Red Model by Rene Magritte

The uncanny affinity between the feet and the shoes drives our curiosity and undermines our habitual conceptual polarity: feet/shoe, human/non-human, civilization/wilderness, inside/outside. If you want to know more, check out:

http://www.nem.tku.edu.tw/courses/modernity/2B/Magritte_01.htm

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Marcus Aurelius

Bust of Marcus Aurelius in the Musée Saint-Raymond, Toulouse

Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 – 17 March 180 AD) was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers.

Marcus Aurelius’ Stoic tome Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

I am using the following joke as an introduction to a more serious discussion of stereotypes:

In heaven, the lovers are French, the cops are British, the food is Italian, the cars are German, and the whole thing is run by the swiss

In hell, the lovers are Swiss, the cops are German, the food is British, the cars are French, and the whole thing is run by the Italians.

The definition of a stereotype that I like best is that of a vastly oversimplified image or idea about something. One needs to exhibit a great amount of caution when it comes to any stereotyping as the following so elegantly demonstrates:

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking Tania, Terri, Carole & John for leaving a comment. 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. I really hope more of you start leaving comments as it could lead to some insightful discussions.

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

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.

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

01/04/16 – Seeing and Hearing

January 4, 2016January 4, 2016 Wm. Allen8 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Generosity

Last week, I witnessed a little girl giving her birthday money to an animal shelter. I devoted an entire chapter of my book to generosity and all I said didn’t come close to communicating the spirit of generosity, viewing this single act of kindness by a child conveyed.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

The Mental Game – The Inner Game of Bowling

by George Allen

I believe the typical reader will see this as a book about bowling, which no doubt is true. But I also believe the extraordinary reader will see this as a book about life. The very last sentence of the book supports my theory. It says, “And, if you are going to put your fate in someone’s hands, why not make them your own?”

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

I am very concerned about those of you who are neglecting your health. Hey, if you don’t take care of your own health, you will not be able to do anything for anyone and may even become a burden to those who care about you. So I am permanently adding this section to my weekly posts. For you men out there, below is the results of a recent study that will help you have a longer life.

SOCIAL TRAITS

I think the more we are exposed to other cultures, the more we start to understand that we are more alike than we are different. For instance, please check out this brief advertisement from India.

https://www.facebook.com/SilentDesi/videos/10203696555587230/?fref=nf

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Chapter 40 of my book talks about seeing and hearing what is there, rather than what you want to be there. Perhaps, the quote below may help you see a bit more clearly.

And talk about seeing and hearing what you want to hear, I saw on Facebook way too many posts about Mark Zuckerberg giving away money for just posting something on Facebook. True, Mark Zuckerberg is giving away a lot of money, but for worthy causes and not just for someone who expects money for doing something so trivial as a Facebook post. So, this is for the naive:

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Sexy Window Cleaner

Ladies, I have a hunch I know what you are thinking, but things aren’t always as you wish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2RrnjSt5ck

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Your Dreams

Last year I conducted this same poll and 26 of you voted. Last years results were that 19 or 73% of you thought achieving your goals were within your own power and 7 or 27% of you thought achieving your goals were either unlikely or dependent upon forces outside of yourself.

I’m delighted to say that this year 38 of you voted. The results were that 35 or 92% of you thought achieving your goals were within your own power and 3 or 8% of you thought accomplishing your goals were either unlikely or depended upon forces outside of yourself.

THIS WEEK POLL – 2016

Chapter 10 of my book is devoted to “Optimism”. Unfortunately, I can appreciate that some of you may be facing circumstances where you have little to be optimistic about. But for most of us, I feel even if we are facing challenges, we can still be optimistic. So this week’s poll is on how optimistic you feel about 2016.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Keep on Dancing

If you want to hear some good music and see a fantastic video that goes with that music, just click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeEs6e0FdwU&feature=youtu.be

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

I think it is a difficult concept to accept, but it is possible for honest and well intentioned people to be exposed to the same set of circumstances and come up with vastly different views.

Tell us what you first see via the poll

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud was one of the trailblazers of modern-day psychology. As the originator of Psychoanalysis, Freud distinguished himself as an intellectual giant. He pioneered new techniques for understanding human behavior, and his efforts resulted in the most comprehensive theory of personality and psychotherapy ever developed. (Source: Compiled by Himmat Rana, May 1997)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

Sigmund Freud was giving one of his famous Clark University lectures. Freud had been describing the latent sexual meaning and significance of dream symbols, when someone asked, “You seem to smoke a lot of cigars, what does *that* symbolize?”

Fraud then issued his famous but apparently unsubstantiated reply.

“Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking Tania & Carol for leaving a comment. 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.

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

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.

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

12/28/15 – It’s A Wonderful Life Revisited

December 28, 2015 Wm. Allen4 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and best wishes for an extraordinary 2016.

Also, 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. By the end of the year, if you apply yourself, you will be extraordinary or at least more extraordinary than you currently are–why not give it a try.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

I was in Barnes & Nobles the other day and couldn’t stop myself from purchasing a collectible version of this extraordinary self-help book which was first published on December 19, 1843 and have never been out of print.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you’re not here any more.

Source: The Ghost of Christmas Present

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

It’s A Wonderful Life

This updated version of It’s A Wonderful Life is my absolute favorite. Please check it out, it is only 1 minute and 33 seconds. Please let me know via comments if you enjoy it.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Star Wars vs. Star Trek

The result of last week’s poll is that 64% of you prefer Star Trek, whereas, 36% of you prefer Star Wars.

THIS WEEK POLL – Your Dreams

Since this week is a start of a new year, this week’s poll is again about your dreams and aspirations for the future.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Sorry folks, I seem to be stuck in the 50s.

Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry

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

But for those of you who aren’t into Chuck, well here is a version by Sheryl Crow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhce_LI9dgc

And here is a version by Steven Tyler and Brad Paisley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmCZfljt1Kw

Run Rudolph Run” is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie. The song was first recorded by Chuck Berry in 1958. It has since been covered by numerous other artists including Emily Osment, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sister Hazel, Billy Ray Cyrus, Five Easy Pieces, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, Dave Edmunds, Hanson, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams, Lulu, Click Five, The Grateful Dead, Keith Richards, Brinsley Schwarz, Jimmy Buffett, Foghat, Paul Brandt, Whitney Wolanin, Kelly Clarkson, The Tractors, Dwight Yoakam, Reverend Horton Heat, Hanoi Rocks, Billy Idol, Cee Lo Green, Luke Bryan, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Joe Perry, Los Lonely Boys, Jane Krakowski (Source: Wikipedia)

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

Dogs Playing Poker refers collectively to a series of sixteen oil paintings by C. M. Coolidge, commissioned in 1903 by Brown & Bigelow to advertise cigars. The painting below is titled, A Friend in Need.

While some send out family portraits as their holiday cards, photographer Ed Wheeler has been dressing up as Santa Claus for years and posing in hilarious compositions for his cards. It was in 2011, though, when the festive photographer decided to take his work a step further and incorporate jolly ol’ Saint Nick into classical masterpieces, such as the painting below by C.M. Coolidge.

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Santa Claus

Santa delivering gifts to children

Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior (“naughty” or “nice”) and to deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the well-behaved children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the flying reindeer who pull his sleigh.[5][6] He is commonly portrayed as living at the North Pole and saying “ho ho ho” often.(Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

This week’s joke illustrates the importance of context

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking my friend Tania for leaving a comment. 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.

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

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.

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

12/21/15 – Science Fiction

December 21, 2015December 21, 2015 Wm. Allen2 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Since the big news recently has been the release of another Star Wars film, I thought some of you would be interested in this rare photo of the wife of one of the key characters in the Star Wars series.

Latest In Security Cameras

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction and it seems the Italians have come up with outstanding security cameras.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

I have the 1988 edition of this book that I first read in 1990 and it changed my understanding of the universe and I believe it will do the same for you. There are newer versions with updates available today and as with the vast majority of my recommendations, it is a relatively easy read.

A landmark volume in science writing by one of the great minds of our time, Stephen Hawking’s book explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin—and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends?

Told in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and “arrows of time,” of the big bang and a bigger God—where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation. (Source: Amazon)

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

“Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view.”

Source: Obi-Wan Kenobi

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I recall watching this TV series when I was a kid and found and still find it very thought provoking. And I have listened to all the old Dimension X, and X Minus One radio shows. Some of those old radio shows seem a bit corny today, but not all of them. Everything builds on what came before it, so if you like Star Wars or Star Trek, maybe you will what to check out some of this 1950s stuff. If you look closely at one the Twilight Zone episodes, you may even see Captain James T. Kirk.

The Twilight Zone

1959 Series Logo

The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. It is a series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and/or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist. A popular and critical success, it introduced many Americans to common science fiction and fantasy tropes. The program followed in the tradition of earlier shows such as Tales of Tomorrow (1951–53), which also dramatized the short story “What You Need”, and Science Fiction Theatre (1955–57), and radio programs such as The Weird Circle, Dimension X, and X Minus One, and the radio work of one of Serling’s inspirations, Norman Corwin. In 2013, TV Guide ranked it #5 in its list of the 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time. (Source: Wikipedia)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – My Weight

The results of last week’s poll are:

Almost 50% plan to lose weight by changing our diet & exercising more.

Another 20% plan to lose weight by exercising

Still another 10% plan to lose weight by changing their diet.

Amazingly, almost 20% of us are pleased with our current weight–hats off to that extraordinary 20%.

Finally, 2% of us want to gain weight. How many of us would like to trade places with that 2%.

THIS WEEK POLL – Star Wars vs. Star Trek

With the release of the new Star Wars movie, this may be a bad time to ask; but which of the two series & spin offs do you prefer?

SONG OF THE WEEK

Since this week’s theme is “Science Fiction”, what better song than this one.

One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx47qrH1GRs

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

Since this week’s post is focusing on science fiction, here is a work of art painted by the great surrealist artist, Salvador Dalí.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí

The well-known surrealist piece introduced the image of the soft melting pocket watch. It epitomizes Dalí’s theory of “softness” and “hardness”, which was central to his thinking at the time. As Dawn Ades wrote, “The soft watches are an unconscious symbol of the relativity of space and time, a Surrealist meditation on the collapse of our notions of a fixed cosmic order”. This interpretation suggests that Dalí was incorporating an understanding of the world introduced by Albert Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. Asked by Ilya Prigogine whether this was in fact the case, Dalí replied that the soft watches were not inspired by the theory of relativity, but by the surrealist perception of a Camembert melting in the sun.

The orange clock at the bottom left of the painting is covered in ants. Dalí often used ants in his paintings as a symbol of decay.

The Persistence of Memory employs “the exactitude of realist painting techniques” to depict imagery more likely to be found in dreams than in waking consciousness.[Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Since this week’s topic is science fiction, who else but Captain James T. Kirk.

James T. Kirk

James Tiberius Kirk was born on March 22, 2233, in Riverside, Iowa. Although born on Earth, Kirk for a time lived on Tarsus IV, where he was one of nine surviving witnesses to the massacre of 4,000 colonists by Kodos the Executioner.

At Starfleet Academy, Kirk became the only student to defeat the Kobayashi Maru test, garnering a commendation for original thinking by reprogramming the computer to make the “no-win scenario” winnable.

Kirk became Starfleet’s youngest captain when he received command of the USS Enterprise for a five-year mission. Kirk’s most significant relationships are with first officer Spock and chief medical officer Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.

Robert Jewett and John Shelton Lawrence’s The Myth of the American Superhero describes Kirk as “a hard-driving leader who pushes himself and his crew beyond human limits”. Terry J. Erdman and Paula M. Block, in their Star Trek 101 primer, note that while “cunning, courageous and confident”, Kirk also has a “tendency to ignore Starfleet regulations when he feels the end justifies the means”; he is “the quintessential officer, a man among men and a hero for the ages”.

Although Kirk becomes romantically involved with various women, when confronted with a choice between a woman and the Enterprise, “his ship always won”. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

A neutron walks into a bar and asks “how much for a beer?”

Bartender responds “For you? no charge.”

BLOG

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

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

MY BOOK

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

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

12/14/15 – Media Coverage

December 14, 2015 Wm. Allen2 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Next Republican Debate

Tuesday, December 15

Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Ted Cruz during a previous Republican primary debate. | AP Photo

It never fails to amaze me as to how much time many people spend watching sports and yet will devote little time to understanding our political process. If you don’t want to learn about what is going on in the political arena, this will probably still be worth watching than for no other reason but entertainment.

The criteria for CNN’s Dec. 15 presidential debate include a new way for candidates to make the stage: early-state polling strength.
Candidates can qualify for the debate through one of three ways: polling averages nationally, in Iowa, and in New Hampshire.

According to CNN, nine candidates would currently make the cut: Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Carly Fiorina and Chris Christie.

The undercard debate will also live on, despite some calls among Republicans to begin phasing this out. Candidates who reach at least 1 percent in four separate Iowa, New Hampshire or national polls will make the earlier debate.
As of Friday, that stage will be made up of Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and two candidates who missed the last GOP debate entirely, Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Gov. George Pataki. As of Friday, Gov. Jim Gilmore did not qualify for either stage.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/cnn-gop-debate-criteria-las-vegas-216106#ixzz3twSj6PMh

Media Coverage

I did not believe this memorial would not receive some press coverage and I take the Sunday NY Times, USA Today, Detroit News home delivery, Time magazine and I watch the CNN practically daily. So I checked it out on Snopes.Com and it came up as true.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Is this a self-help book or not–how about you telling me via a comment.

Nineteen Eighty-Four, often published as 1984, is a dystopian novel by English author George Orwell published in 1949.[1][2] The novel is set in Airstrip One (formerly known as Great Britain), a province of the superstate Oceania in a world of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance and public manipulation, dictated by a political system euphemistically named English Socialism (or Ingsoc in the government’s invented language, Newspeak) under the control of a privileged elite of the Inner Party, that persecutes individualism and independent thinking as “thoughtcrime”. (Source: Wikipedia)

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?

Source: Groucho Marx

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy

Ron Burgundy is San Diego’s top rated newsman in the male-dominated broadcasting of the ’70s, but that’s all about to change for Ron and his cronies when an ambitious woman is hired as a new anchor. (Source: IMDB)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Drinking

The results of last week’s poll are:

43% of you have one or two drinks now and then

21% of you routinely have one or two drinks daily

14% of you don’t drink for health reasons

10% of you every so often have more than two drinks daily

7% of you consistently have more than two drinks daily

5% of you don’t drink for religious reasons

I used this same poll last year about this time and found 25% of us have one or two drinks daily and on the other end of the spectrum, about 12% of us abstain from drinking for religious or health reasons. I see there isn’t much change from last year.

THIS WEEK POLL – My Weight

Most people put on extra weight starting from Thanksgiving through New Year’s and so one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions is I’m going to lose some weight this year. It is also one of the most commonly unfulfilled resolutions. So, before we start making any resolutions, I thought it might be nice to do a quick self-assessment via this poll.

Remember, you are what you eat. I recall saying that to a friend and she replied, “In that case I am coffee and wine.”

SONG OF THE WEEK

Since the theme of this week’s post is the media, I thought you might enjoy this song.

Dirty Laundry by the Eagles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzT10MSgKtU

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

I’ve seen this painting at the National Gallery in Washington DC. It was painted by my favorite surrealist artist, Rene Magritte. Magritte was a philosopher, who just happened to communicate via painting rather than words. In this painting, I believe he says that everything you see hides something behind what you are seeing–that is something worth thinking about isn’t it?

The Human Condition by Rene Magritte

The Human Condition (La condition humaine) generally refers to two similar oil on canvas paintings by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte. One was completed in 1933 and is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. The other was completed in 1935 and is part of the Simon Spierer Collection in Geneva, Switzerland. A number of drawings of the same name exist as well, including one at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
One of Magritte’s most common artistic devices was the use of objects to hide what lies behind them. [Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

A newsperson and not an entertainer.

Edward R. Murrow

Edward R. Murrow (April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965) was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio broadcasts for the news division of The Columbia Broadcasting System during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States. During the war he assembled a team of foreign correspondents who came to be known as the Murrow Boys.

A pioneer of television news broadcasting, Murrow produced a series of reports that helped lead to the censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, Bill Downs, Dan Rather, and Alexander Kendrick consider Murrow one of journalism’s greatest figures, noting his honesty and integrity in delivering the news.

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 Judy, Melissa, Carol, Carolyn, Rick and Coach Jo. 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.

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

MY BOOK

I donated two copies of my book to Angel Kisses for auction/raffle prizes for their 7th Annual Fundraiser on February, 20, 2016 at Woody’s Diner in Royal Oak, MI from 2 to 8 p.m. For more information about this organization and their efforts to improve bereavement care for pregnancy loss, please click on the link below.

http://angelkisses.org/

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

12/07/15 – Mother-in-Laws

December 4, 2015December 7, 2015 Wm. Allen12 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Delores Perkey

Mother-in-Laws are often the butt of many jokes and overall I think they get a bad rap. My mother-in-law died last week. I don’t think I’m that unusual in being able to say, “I had an absolutely fantastic mother-in-law.” Here she is, with her bags packed, and on her way to heaven.

I’m so glad that last Christmas I had a trophy made up for her saying “Delores Perkey, World’s Best Mother-in-Law”. If you also have a fantastic mother-in-law, why not present her with a trophy saying so. I’m sure it will be something that she will treasure.

Travel

Saturday, I had the opportunity to hear travel tips directly from Rick Steves, who was speaking at the Music Hall in Detroit.

His travel videos are available from a number of sources and are very entertaining and informative to watch. If you want to be extraordinary, it helps to go out and see the world. It is easier than you might think.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

I have no idea how long I have been reading Frog & Toad, nor how many times I have read these books, or even how many copies I’ve given to parents for their children. They say the book is designed for children 4 to 8; but in some ways we are all a child at heart. If you are looking for a gift for a child, I strongly recommend a Frog and Toad book. It contains a lot of wisdom in an easily digestible style.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I suspect not many of you have ever been to a weight lifting competition, so here is a very short clip to give you an idea of what it is like.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Goals/Resolutions for 2016

The results of last week’s poll are:

25% of you have wishes, but nothing specific

22% of you set goals that are specifically measurable

19% of you monitor via action plans your goal accomplishment progress

17% of you don’t bother with goals and another 17% set specific goals and develop action plans.

Interestingly enough, I used this same poll last year about this time and these were the results:

25% have wishes, but nothing specific

15% don’t bother with setting goals

60% set specific goals that are objectively measureable. In addition some of you in that 60% category also develop action plans to accomplish those specific goals and others even go so far as to monitor progress.

THIS WEEK POLL – Drinking

Folks, during the Christmas and New Year’s Eve Holidays, there is a lot of drinking going on, so I thought bringing back a poll on drinking may be relevant, plus it gives me a chance to say, “If you drink, drink responsibly and be very careful with driving so that we all have a safe holiday.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Given the theme of this post, what else could be song of the week other than Ernie K. Doe’s 1961 Number one hit, Mother-In-Law. Just click on the link below to hear this classic.

Ernie K. Doe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcFkUHvlf5A

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

Whistler’s Mother by James McNeill Whistler

Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1, best known under its colloquial name Whistler’s Mother, is a painting in oils on canvas created by the American-born painter James McNeill Whistler in 1871. The painting is 56.81 by 63.94 inches [ ], displayed in a frame of Whistler’s own design. It is exhibited in and held by the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, having been bought by the French state in 1891. It is one of the most famous works by an American artist outside the United States. It has been variously described as an American icon and a Victorian Mona Lisa. [Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Not happy with your mother-in-law, well Catherine de’ Medici could always be your mother-in-law.

Catherine de’ Medici

An Italian noblewoman who married King Henri II of France, Catherine de’ Medici became a political force to be reckoned with during the successive reigns of her three sons. Hoping to consolidate her family’s power, she forced her daughter Marguerite to marry Henri de Bourbon, whose faith—Protestantism—and doting mother—Jeanne d’Albret—Catherine loathed. Jeanne fell ill and died shortly after arriving at court with her reluctant son, leading some to accuse Catherine of murdering her with poisoned gloves. After the wedding in 1572, Catholic mobs unleashed a wave of targeted killings on the Protestants who had gathered in Paris for the festivities. Historians think Catherine authorized or at least knew of the carnage, which her new son-in-law barely escaped. Catherine’s relationship with her daughter-in-law Mary Stuart was also strained. When the young queen’s husband Francis II died, Catherine ordered his grieving widow to return the crown jewels and head home to Scotland immediately. [Source: History Lists)

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 Carole. 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.

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

MY BOOK

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

11/30/15 – Dave Miller

November 30, 2015 Wm. Allen2 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Dave Miller

It is with shock and sadness that I learned of the sudden passing of my brother David Miller while he was vacationing in Costa Rica yesterday.
Dave was a great guy and loved by many. He was 61 years old.
Please pray for his newly departed soul and for his widow Gail Miller.
There are no plans for services at this time.

Source: Cheryl Miller, Dave’s sister

Dave was a long-time friend of mine and my euchre partner at the San Marino Club, where one year we actually won this ten-week tournament.

I believe a number of you have attended my numerous happy hour parties and know Dave and his wife Gail, who were frequent attendees.

Police Unions

I’m starting to wonder why there seems to be so many rogue police officers. I think back to my union days and I recall there were a number of workers that really should have lost their jobs, but the union kept management from firing them.

Perhaps, the same is true of the police officers unions. I can’t believe that the other seven (I believe that was the number) officers who was on the scene didn’t know this officer who jumped out of his car and fired 16 shots into this teenager didn’t know they had a rogue cop in their ranks.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

I bought Rules for a Knight on the 20th of this month and finished it by the 24th of this month. It is definitely as easy read, but it is also a great guide for your journey though life.

From Ethan Hawke, four-time Academy Award nominee—twice for writing and twice for acting—an unforgettable fable about a father’s journey and a timeless guide to life’s many questions. (Source: Amazon.com)

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Death, who takes the form of a young man, asks a media mogul to act as a guide to teach him about life on Earth and in the process he falls in love with his guide’s daughter. (Source: IMDB)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Thanksgiving

Probably no surprise that the vast majority of you (76%) were either having Thanksgiving at home or at a friends or relatives house. The remaining 24% may be of interest to you, if you want to check the results of last week’s poll.

THIS WEEK POLL – Goals/Resolutions for 2016

As we move into the last month of the year, many of us will start thinking about goals and resolutions for 2016, so this week’s poll is about your goals/resolutions plans for the coming year.

SONG OF THE WEEK

I had the privilege of seeing a live performance of MC Hammer a few years ago and Hammer is right, “U Can’t Touch This”.

MC Hammer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otCpCn0l4Wo

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix

Delacroix depicted Liberty as both an allegorical goddess-figure and a robust woman of the people. The mound of corpses acts as a kind of pedestal from which Liberty strides, barefoot and bare-breasted, out of the canvas and into the space of the viewer. The Phrygian cap she wears had come to symbolize liberty during the first French Revolution, of 1789–94. The painting has been seen as a marker to the end of the Age of Enlightenment, as many scholars see the end of the French Revolution as the start of the romantic era.

The fighters are from a mixture of social classes, ranging from the bourgeoisie represented by the young man in a top hat, a student from the prestigious École Polytechnique wearing the traditional bicorne, to the revolutionary urban worker, as exemplified by the boy holding pistols. What they have in common is the fierceness and determination in their eyes. Aside from the flag held by Liberty, a second, minute tricolore can be discerned in the distance flying from the towers of Notre Dame. (Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Captain Jack Sparrow

[Captain Jack] Sparrow is one of the nine pirate lords in the Brethren Court, the Pirate Lords of the Seven Seas. He can be treacherous and survives mostly by using wit and negotiation rather than by force, opting to flee most dangerous situations and to fight only when necessary. (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 Tania and Mary. 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.

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

MY BOOK

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