This is a fun and very quick read, that contains many helpful insights.
Really Important Stuff
My Cat Has Taught Me
By Cynthia L. Copeland
Movie of the Week
I enjoyed watching the first six of this ten episode Apple TV series. Episode 7 will be available on July 2.The show is about a washed-up professional golfer, who turns towards a rising young star in the game to turn things around for himself.I find Owen Wilson is good in whatever role he is playing. Mariana Treviño Ortiz, who plays the mother is a joy to watch.
Don Quixote does not see the world for what it is and prefers to imagine that he is living out a knightly story meant for the annals of all time.
Perhaps more of us should be
“tilting at windmills”
The above is a 1955 sketch by Pablo Picasso
of the Spanish literary hero and his sidekick, Sancho Panza.
Art of the Week
The Healer (1937)
By Réne Magritte
The Cloaked Figure:
The figure’s anonymity, enhanced by the cloak, invites interpretation while obscuring identity, a common Magrittean technique.
The Birdcage:
The birdcage, often a symbol of confinement or hidden truths, juxtaposed with the birds (symbols of freedom) creates a paradox, suggesting both restriction and potential for liberation.
Healing and Mystery:
The title “The Healer” suggests a focus on restoration or guidance, but the unsettling imagery hints at a deeper, perhaps more complex, exploration of the human condition.
Existential Ambiguity:
The painting can be interpreted as a meditation on the nature of healing, both physical and emotional, and the inherent mysteries of life and the human mind.
Summary
Magritte’s work often challenges viewers to question their perceptions of reality and the relationship between the visible and the invisible, and “The Healer” exemplifies this approach.
Joke of the Week
Physical Traits
One of the competitors at the recent APF/AAPF National Powerlifting competition was 90 years old.
The Kindle version of this book is free, and the paperback version is $10However, I must warn you that this book will not change your life, only you can do that.This book can be ordered from Amazon
Current Events 2025 APF/AAPF National Competition Six 1st Place Medals & Two 2nd Place Medals Bench Press Deadlift Masters 8 (75 to 79 years old) Open (Age not considered) More important, I met a 90 year old guy, who was also competing. What an inspiration! Book of the Week This is a book about strategy […]
Current Events How Long Must This Go On? Books of the Week Movie of the Week An odd sort of film, but kept my interest. My Last Five Girlfriends (2009) Please click on the link below to see the video. https://youtu.be/WxKmu4926FA?si=ZNUwiJQbP8avi59o Music of the Week Extraordinary Person of the Week Those Who Exercise Self-Control Regardless […]
Current Events How to fix 80% of your problems But many would rather take a pill, an injection, or do something else, so long as it doesn’t require much effort on their part. Book of the Week Want to know what it is all about? This book will not provide the answer, but may help […]
CURRENT EVENTS There is still time, if you haven’t already made this a great year. BOOK OF THE WEEK Eat Any Good Books Lately? MOVIE OF THE WEEK I’ve seen this film so many times and still enjoy it. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) MUSIC OF THE WEEK Hang On Sloopy By The […]
CURRENT EVENTS Happy Labor Day Friends BOOK OF THE WEEK Blinkist is a book summary app. First off, I want to say that I receive nothing from Blinkist. I think you will find there are a number of other book summary apps. I didn’t think such a service would be good for me, since I […]
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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).
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.
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 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”.
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 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.
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 🙂
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”.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.