CURRENT EVENTS – Tour de Troit
What a fantastic way to spend a Saturday (9/19/15) and my compliments to the riders who braved Saturday’s weather to participate in this extraordinary event.
https://www.facebook.com/TourdeTroit
The mission of the Tour de Troit is to promote and encourage bicycling and bicycle safety through education, public events, collaboration with community and government organizations and support for non-motorized infrastructure. The Tour de Troit, the city’s largest cycling event, raises awareness of biking as a mode of transportation and publicizes the growing greenways network in the City of Detroit and all of Southeastern Michigan. Tour de Troit also produces and supports other events that promote a healthy lifestyle and city, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bike Ride, PaczKi Run, Run du Nain Rouge and Cycle Into Spring.
http://www.tour-de-troit.org/about
SELF-HELP BOOKS – The Tao of Elvis
I know I have suggested this book in the past; but if you give this easy to read book a chance, you will find it contains much spiritual guidance.
“The Tao is great, the king is also great.”–Lao Tzu
Elvis Presley was an intensely spiritual man. Gospel was his music of choice, and his life–from innocence to addiction, from obscurity to fame, from “Hound Dog” to “Love Me Tender”–was one long quest to balance opposites. The Tao of Elvis is the first attempt to illustrate Elvis’s Taoist nature and interpret his never-ending search for purpose and meaning. Highlighting Elvis’s journey from light into dark, Jungian expert and Elvis scholar David Rosen explores and examines his life through the structure of the Tao Te Ching. In reflections on forty-two Taoist concepts–one for each year of Elvis’s life–Rosen reveals how the Tao, a mysterious force, was and is operating through America’s king. Like the Tao, Elvis is everywhere. (Source: Amazon)
MOVIE OF THE WEEK – When the Moors Ruled in Europe
If you are Amazon Prime, you can watch this film for free or if you have a Netflix DVD subscription and I was surprised that you can find it on Youtube, also for free. In today’s troubled times, it is something that you owe to yourself to look at how things could be rather than how they are. It is a well done documentary of how people thrive when they are tolerant of one another. As I mentioned in my posts from Spain this year, I have been to many of the cities and buildings mentioned in the film (Alhambra, Cordova, Seville, Toledo, etc.). I wish I have viewed this film before my trip.
Bettany Hughes traces the story of the mysterious and misunderstood Moors, the Islamic society that ruled in Spain for 700 years, but whose legacy was virtually erased from Western history. In 711 AD, a tribe of newly converted Muslims from North Africa crossed the straits of Gibraltar and invaded Spain. Known as The Moors, they went on to build a rich and powerful society. Its capital, Cordoba, was the largest and most civilised city in Europe, with hospitals, libraries and a public infrastructure. Amongst the many things that were introduced to Europe by Muslims at this time were: a huge body of classical Greek texts that had been lost to the rest of Europe for centuries (kick-starting the Renaissance); mathematics and the numbers we use today; advanced astronomy and medical practices; fine dining; the concept of romantic love; and paper. (Source: http://www.infocobuild.com/books-and-films/social-science/when-the-moors-ruled-in-europe.html )
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK – Chapter 19 of my book discusses “Change”, but the quote below will certainly do if you don’t have a chance to read that chapter in my book.
LAST WEEK POLL – Your Health Habits in Regards to Others
Since I permitted multiple voting, I have no idea how many people participated in last week’s poll, but there were 68 votes. The highest number of votes went to;
One or less alcohol drinks a day – 11 votes
I exercise more than most people – 9 votes
On average I get less than 7 hours sleep a night – 9 votes
My diet is better than most peoples – 8 votes
THIS WEEK’S POLL – Chapter 20 of my book discusses the importance of celebrating successes (yours and your friends & associates) as well as various holidays. So this week’s poll is related to the various ways one might celebrate Halloween, if they care to do so. Again, you can vote for more than one item.
SONG OF THE WEEK – Folks, here is another dance video for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmnSm_d2ll4
THIS WEEK’S JOKE – In chapter 30 of my book, I talk about how important it is to avoid arguments with people. One sure way of avoiding arguments is to not talk about religion.
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE – Lao Tzu
Little is truly known about the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu [ ], who is a guiding figure in [ ] Taoism [ ]. He is said to have been a record keeper in the court of the central Chinese Zhou Dynasty in the 6th century B.C., and an older contemporary of Confucius. This could be true, but he may also have been entirely mythical [ ].
Lao Tzu is said to have tired of life in the Zhou court as it grew increasingly morally corrupt. So he left and rode on a water buffalo to the western border of the Chinese empire. Although he was dressed as a farmer, the border official recognised him and asked him to write down his wisdom. According to this legend, what Lao Tzu wrote became the sacred text called the Tao Te Ching. After writing this piece, Lao Tzu is said to have crossed the border and disappeared from history, perhaps to become a hermit. In reality, the Tao Te Ching is likely the compilation of the works of many authors over time. But stories about Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching itself passed down through different Chinese philosophical schools for over two thousand years. (Source: The Philosophers’ Mail)
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