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BLAINESWORLD
#558 6.11.2007 In this issue: 1. Reflections 2. FYI 3. Simple math 4. Reviews . . . KNOCKED UP, etc. 5. TV alert 6. Becoming illegal 7. Websites 8. Computer tip 9. 15 excuses for calling in sick 10. A quote I like 11. Thought for the day 12. Advance planning department _________________________________________________________ 1. Reflections A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I are looking forward to my daughter Risa's upcoming wedding . . . she just recently chose a date (October 18, 2008) and location: Battlefield Country Club in Manalapan, NJ . . . details to follow. We are also pleased with the progress that my mother is making from her hip fracture . . . she is now slated to return home from the rehab center this coming Friday! B. I got to see two exceptional plays this past week . . . the first, WAR SONGS II: MORE SONGS FROM THE VIETNAM ERA, was performed at the Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, PA . . . it featured eight performers, and I'd be hard pressed to choose a favorite. To see clips from some of the songs, please click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05mGOow2kcQ&mode=related&search= My only disappointment: At an earlier show, one of the singers even proposed to his bride-to-be on stage . . . I'm sorry I did not see that, but you can by first getting out your hankies and then clicking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhIgFk9q8gk I saw the second one, DAMN YANKEES, at the Heritage Center in Morrisville, PA . . . this musical is one of my all-time favorites . . . I've now seen three it three times in the past five years, and methinks this may well have been the best production. Each cast member was perfect in his or her role . . . I get a particular kick out of seeing some actors I've seen in smaller roles (James Petro, terrific here as Joe Hardy) take on their first major starring turns . . . also, it's fun to notice somebody in a lesser role (Alex Hernandez, for instance, as one of the baseball players) and look forward to what the future may bring . . . Bill Thompkins was great as the devil, as was Dani Tucci-Juraga as his assistant . . . Cheryl Doyle was touching in her role as Meg Boyd, and Joe Doyle's direction was right on target . . . I always like the little touches he incorporates; e.g., giving out peanuts before the second act and having everybody sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Unfortunately, both of these above shows will have ended their runs by the time you read this issue . . . however, make sure you get on the mailing list for these two theaters so you don't miss anything else they put on: Bristol Riverside Theatre: http://www.brtstage.org Heritage Center: http://www.actorsnetbucks.org C. KUDOS to all those involved with putting on the 19th annual Tyler Tasting Party at Bucks County Community College . . . Faith Bertolet and Glenn Blakely served as co-chairs, and they were ably assisted by a committee of 17 other volunteers . . . in addition, Foundation staffers Tobi Bruhn, Adrienne Clarke, Nancy Steigerwalt and Jean Holmes put in countless hours to make the event the success that it was. I had a blast, visiting such favorites eateries as American Crab Company, Dolce Carini, Il Sol, and Zebra-Striped Whale . . . see below for a picture of yours truly (in the middle), flanked by my friends from left to right: Mike Lazanski, Sue Russeck, and Ginny and Kevin Jameson:  D. MR. CURIOUS HERE:
I was in a minor fender-bender this past Saturday. . . somebody clipped me as I was pulling into a parking space . . . I've reported the accident to my insurance company, but am wondering if I would be better off not putting in an actual claim . . . what I'd get back wouldn't be much more than my deductible, and I don't want to jeopardize our coverage since Cynthia and I have both had some accidents and tickets in the past. The other party wasn't issued a ticket since the officer said he wasn't there, so he wasn't exactly sure what happened . . . nobody was hurt . . . any thoughts? ***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD ***** This week, it goes to Jim Sell--executive director of BCCC's Bristol Center. He has done his usual super job there, helping to revitalize the existing Bristol campus as he also helps get the College ready to move to its new facility just down the road . . . I've always admired Jim because of how he constantly goes out of the way to help folks . . . to cite just one such instance: Marilyn Puchalski, a longtime friend/colleague, told me about how she was recently slated to speak in Bristol only to have car trouble the day before . . . Jim both picked her up and took her back to the main campus just so she wouldn't have to cancel. Jim is held in high regard by the entire College community . . . in fact, just a few years ago he was presented with the Alumni Association's Award for Service to the College. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 2. FYI A beautifully dressed, perfectly coiffed woman, age ninety-two, arrived at the nursing home in a taxi. Feeble and using a walker, she'd come to the establishment because she could no longer live on her own since the death of her husband after seventy years of marriage. Despite waiting in the lobby for two hours, she was still smiling when the nurse came to get her. As she was being guided along a corridor and told about the tiny room that would be hers, the old woman gushed with a schoolgirl's enthusiasm, "I love it!" "But Mrs. Jones, you haven't even seen the room yet," the nurse said. "That has nothing to do with it. Happiness is something I decide on ahead of time. Whether or not I like my room doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I choose to arrange my mind." Indeed, how we arrange our minds has everything to do with how happy and successful we become. In fact, a positive attitude is as essential to success as oxygen is to life. Yet it's astonishing how many people don't realize how they-not someone else, not luck or fate, not even life's dire events-determine their attitude. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent," Eleanor Roosevelt observed. And it could equally be said that no one can make us unhappy or unsuccessful without our tacit compliance either. When people allow outside events to shape them, they lose power over controlling their destiny. SOURCE: BECOME WHO YOU WERE BORN TO BE (see also 4C, 10 and 11) by Brian Souza FYI, part 2 * Pam in Pennsylvania: First, thank you for your newsletter . . . it’s quirky and fun and sometimes even--gasp!--useful. (And I do like your jokes. See my PS.) A small suggestion: On page 1 of the last issue, next to last paragraph, you mention Mitch Aglow’s shining in the play. To say “ . . . he shone . . . ” would be cooler than “ . . . he shined . . . " Also, may I take advantage of your generous book offer? If convenient it could be sent to me here at Bucks . . .less postage and all that. With many thanks and hopes that the book will indeed do its good work PS. Dunno where you stand on puns, but here’s one of my current favourites: Q: Why don't bears like to walk on gravel paths? A.: Because they have bare/bear feet! MY TWO CENTS: On shone vs. shined, I believe either works; in fact, BRB. Baaaaack, you missed me? Just checked my online Merriam-Webster dictionary and found out that both Pam and I could be considered correct: Main Entry: 1shine Function: verb Pronunciation: 'shin Inflected Form(s): shone/'shOn, esp Canadian & British 'shän/ or shined ; shin·ing Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scinan; akin to Old High German skinan to shine and perhaps to Greek skia shadow intransitive senses 1 : to emit rays of light 2 : to be bright by reflection of light 3 : to be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished <shines in math> 4 : to have a bright glowing appearance <his face shone with enthusiasm> 5 : to be conspicuously evident or clear transitive senses 1 a : to cause to emit light b : to throw or direct the light of 2 past & past part shined : to make bright by polishing <shined his shoes> On sending puns, I love ALL types of humor and appreciate getting such material--and other stuff too (see also Section 5A), especially if you typically haven't seen it before . . . what BLAINESWORLD the newsletter is all about is sharing! As for the book offer that Pam mentions, I'm glad to oblige her any anybody else; see below: ***** THIS REMINDS ME ***** As it turns out, I still have a few copies left of Allen Carr's excellent book (THE EASY WAY TO STOP SMOKING) that will help you or others stop smoking. . . if you'd like a FREE COPY--with my compliments--for yourself, a friend or loved one, please let me know . . . your best bet is to send an email to: bginbc@aol.com . . . put these words in the subject line: STOP SMOKING BOOK . . . then in body of the email, include your full name and address. I only request that if you plan to give the book to somebody else that you first check with that person to see if he or she actually wants it and would be willing to read it, say within a month . . . you can even tell them that they can continue to smoke during that time . . . otherwise, I've found that giving the book to somebody who doesn't want it makes you come across as little more than a pest. * Andrea in Pennsylvania: I also had the opportunity to go to Patsy's in NYC. It was great and all of the ladies in our group received a gift bag with a jar of their sauce. It was a fantastic touch that I haven't forgotten. (And since I am in sales I am fortunate to go out to a lot of nice dinners.) * Warren in Pennsylvania: [commenting on the belief.net website mentioned last week] Interestingly, but not necessarily surprisingly, it appears that there are at least 10 other religions that are more compatible with my beliefs than the one to which I now belong. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 3. Simple math My friend Susan was helping her five-year-old son review his math while her teenager was in the kitchen making a snack. “You have seven dollars and seven friends.” Susan said. “You give a dollar each to two of them but none to the others. What do you have left?” From the next room she heard her teenager call out, “Two friends.” Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 4. Reviews A. Seth Rogen was hilarious in THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN; in fact, for me, he was the best part of the film . . . he again scores in KNOCKED UP, a follow-up that isn't quite as funny--but is more touching. He plays the a slacker with no prospects who has a one-night stand with Katherine Heigl, an up-and-coming TV journalist . . . when she becomes pregnant, they begin dating and the results are anything but smooth . . . by the time the baby comes due, they aren't even together . . . yet (SPOILER ALERT) all ends well, which isn't much of a surprise considering that this is a romantic comedy. I also liked the work of both Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd as Heigl's sister and brother-in-law . . . rated R. B. The aforementioned Rogen reminds me of a young Albert Brooks . . . if you've never seen it, rent the DVD (if you can find it) and catch Brooks in LOST IN AMERICA . . . he and Julie Hagerty play a couple who are not pleased with the way things are going, so they head out on the highway in a brand-new Winnebago to alter their quiet lifestyle . . . things unfortunately don't turn out quite the way they had wanted, which is what makes the movie so appealing . . . it is both funny and touching, and you'll get a particular kick out of one scene featuring filmmaker Gary Marshall as a casino manager . . . rated R. C. Brian Souza notes in his excellent book, BECOME WHO YOU WERE BORN TO BE (see also Sections 2, 10 and 11), that: Just as musicians must make music, poets must write, and artists must paint, we all have a unique gift designed for a specific vocation that will bring both meaning and purpose to our lives. True joy and happiness will continue to elude us until we use that gift to become who we were born to be. Souza then describes how he found this unique gift for himself and, in doing so, shows how others can do the same. He also presents countless real-life examples from such famed successes as Lance Armstrong, Amy Tang, Richard Branson. I gained so many valuable from reading BECOME WHO YOU WERE BORN TO BE that I'm going to reread it in the near future, if just to remind me about the "no regrets" strategy that Souza uses to make life's daily decisions: By analyzing each decision closely and making a conscious choice about which path we believe will lead us to long-term happiness, we'll better our odds of achieving it. If you think that at some point in the future you might regret a decision you're thinking about making, choose a different path. You'll find that this strategy is also helpful in breaking out of the short-timer's mentality of doing only what's easiest today at the expense of tomorrow. When you start with the end in mind, you better your chances of actually liking where you're going to end up. And then there was this invaluable tidbit: Imagine that every day is a holiday. But instead of presents, you give a friendly smile to a passerby, you give the right of way to the guy at the stop sign, you give a compliment to a stranger, you give a meal to a homeless person, you rejoice in someone else's success. It doesn't take much to brighten someone's day. All that you give will be returned to you-and then some. I also liked the many famous and not-so-famous quotes that were used, along with the "questions to contemplate" that he presented at the end of each chapter . . . for example: If you could have any job, what would it be? If you could live anyplace, were would it be? If you could do anything, what would it be? My only nitpick with the book was that I think it could have used a better job of documentation . . . Souza includes an extensive Bibliography; however, I would have wanted to see reference to the items he cites in the actual pages of BECOME WHO YOU WERE BORN TO BE. D. THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING by Norman Vincent Peale is one of my favorite books . . . so imagine my delight when I had the opportunity to revisit it recently as a result of listening to the taped version. Best of all: Peale did most of the narration . . . while some could argue that his speaking voice wasn't the greatest (or at least at the age when he read this particular version), I enjoyed it even more so because he was the one doing the reading. His advice from the book remains timeless; i.e., provided you can get through some of the parts that might be a little too religious-based for your particular taste . . . I was able to do so and so was thus able to enjoy such insights as the following: * As you think, so shall you be. * I don't believe people are born negative thinkers. All babies, unless they're ill, are positive. Positive thinking is extremely natural. Unfortunately, some babies are born into negative households. Since they're very susceptible to their environment, they absorb the negative impulses and attitudes around them. * Create a mental picture of yourself as a success. Hold on to this picture tenaciously. Since your mind tries to complete what it pictures, always picture SUCCESS no matter how badly things seem to be going at the moment. Whenever a negative thought about your personal power comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out. * Anger, fear and worry are among the most subtle and destructive of all emotions. To counteract their power, fill your mind with good will, forgiveness, faith, and love. * Each time you feel a surge of anger, ask yourself, "Is this really worth what it is doing to me emotionally? Do I really want to make a fool of myself in front of friends or family? * Practice happy thinking. Make a mental list of pleasant thoughts and pass them through your mind several times each day. If an unpleasant thought should enter your mind, immediately stop, reject it and substitute a pleasant thought. And, lastly, there was this idea that I do try to practice every day: * Every morning before rising, lie relaxed in bed for a few minutes. Let pictures of each happy experience you expect to have that say, pass across your mind. Savor their joy. such thoughts will cause events to turn out that way. There's an excellent Listener's Guide that accompanies THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING. This fine program is available for purchase or rental . . . if you want to get it, please click: http://www.achievementlibrary.com/
Above is the tape rental club I belong to; i.e., the Achievement Tape Library . . . this a great way to hear CDs and/or audio cassette tapes, view videos, etc.--all for a fraction of what it would cost to buy them . . . call the head of the firm (Paul Arroyo) directly at 1.800.735.3660 and mention my name . . . that way, you'll be sure to pay even higher prices . . . NOT. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 5. TV alert A. Jean in Pennsylvania: I have a VCR alert/TV viewing recommendation for you and perhaps for your newsletter readers. CREATURE COMFORTS debuted last night on CBS and is hilarious. The “Wallace & Gromit” animators interviewed average Americans and put their interviews to claymation animals. For instance, they took audio of a man at a wine tasting, describing the aroma and bouquet and more, and put it to a dog sniffing . . . well, you have to watch. This is the U.S. version of a successful BBC series. You can catch the entire first episode on the CBS website: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/creature_comforts/ Ordinarily, the show airs on Mondays at 8 p.m., but this week you can also catch it on Wednesday at the same time. B. BARBARO is a documentary about last year's Kentucky Derby winner who suffered a terrible leg injury at the Preakness and the eight-month struggle to save his life . . . Friday at 2 p.m. on HBO. C. CONFESSIONS OF A MATCHMAKER is a peek into the romance broker Patti Novak . . . Saturday at 9 p.m. on A&E. D. NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE has teachers evaluating the state of education in the United States . . . this is something appropriate for the whole family to watch . . . Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on NICKELODEON. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 6. Becoming illegal What follows is a supposedly an actual letter from an Iowa resident sent to his senator . . . I haven't been able to disprove it, yet, but even if it's not true, you have to admit that it contains a brilliant idea! The Honorable Tom Harkin 731 Hart Senate Office Building Phone (202) 224 3254 Washington DC, 20510 Dear Senator Harkin, As a native Iowan and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you. My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stems from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out. Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent result for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005. Additionally, as an illegal alien, I could begin using the local emergency room as my primary health care provider. Once I have stopped paying premiums for medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save almost $10,000 a year. Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that my daughter would receive preferential treatment relative to her law school applications, as well as "in-state" tuition rates for many colleges throughout the United States for my son. Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve me of the burden of renewing my driver's license and making those burdensome car insurance premiums. This is very important to me given that I still have college age children driving my car. If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance. Your Loyal Constituent, Donald Ruppert Burlington, IA Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 7. Websites A. To remember what being a child is all about, please click: http://www.simpletruths.com/a.aspx?af=132&mo=time You may have heard this moving story before, but never in quite this format . . . make sure your sound is on. B. If you're a music fan, please click: http://www.noolmusic.com/blogs/z_YouTube_Music_Videos_80s_90s_New_Wave_Rock_Pop_-_Full_List.shtml You'll be able to listen to songs from ABBA, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, Leonard Cohen, Meatloaf, Sting, etc.--and also watch the accompanying music videos! C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net On the left, you'll see "Radio Show" . . . go to that link if you want to see a history of my radio career . . . you can also hear one of my shows. As you may have read previously, a management change at WWFM has in my last show being taken off the air . . . hopefully, I'll resurface soon again on another station and/or even with my own cable show. Please do keep me in mind if you have any media contacts for me to pursue with respect to the above possibilities. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 8. Computer tip If your computer's time (see lower right hand corner of your screen) is not accurate, correcting it is easy . . . just right click your mouse, then select Adjust/Time. To find out what time it really is, please click: http://www.time.gov/ This will give you the official U.S., as is cooperatively provided by the two time agencies of the United States: a Department of Commerce agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its military counterpart, the U. S. Naval Observatory (USNO). Obviously, this website is also very helpful if you want to set your other clocks and watches, VCRs and TiVos, etc. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 9. 15 excuses for calling in sick When asked to share the most unusual excuses workers gave for missing work, hiring managers revealed some of their favorite alibis: 1. Employee was poisoned by his mother-in-law. 2. A buffalo escaped from the game reserve and kept charging the employee every time she tried to go to her car from her house. 3. Employee was feeling all the symptoms of his expecting wife. 4. Employee called from his cell phone, saying that he was accidentally locked in a restroom stall and that no one was around to let him out. 5. Employee broke his leg snowboarding off his roof while drunk. 6. Employee's wife said he couldn't come into work because he had a lot of chores to do around the house. 7. One of the walls in the employee's home fell off the night before. 8. Employee's mother was in jail. 9. A skunk got into the employee's house and sprayed all of his uniforms. 10. Employee had a bad case of hiccups. 11. Employee blew his nose so hard, his back went out. 12. Employee's horses got loose and were running down the highway. 13. Employee was hit by a bus while walking. 14. Employee's dog swallowed her bus pass. 15. Employee was sad. SOURCE: http://www.careerbuilder.com
Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 10. A quote I like So if you're a parent, a grandparent, an uncle or aunt, a teacher, a coach, or just a friend, make it a point to look a child in the eye and tell her that she is destined for greatness. Tell her that she has very important work to do. Tell her that she has a special gift that the world needs. Don't merely tell her with words, but tell her with your eyes and heart that you believe she was put on this earth to make a positive difference. Through planting these little seedlings of hope, we can change this world, one child at a time.--Brian Souza in BECOME WHO YOU WERE BORN TO BE (see also Sections 2, 4C and 11) Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 11. Thought for the day In 1933, Keller penned a remarkable article for the Atlantic Monthly in which she imagined what she would want to view if she could be granted sight for just three days. "I have often thought," she wrote, "that it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound." She mentioned having talked to a sighted friend who'd just returned from a long walk in the woods. When Keller asked her what she'd seen, the woman replied, "Nothing in particular." Keller said she'd become "accustomed to such responses, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little." If granted three days to see, Keller wrote, on the first day she would call in Sullivan and her other friends and "look long into their faces, imprinting upon my mind the outward evidence of the beauty that is within them." She'd want to look at a baby too, as well as dogs, her home, her books, and nature. On the second day, she would rise early to see the dawn-that "thrilling miracle"-and then go to museums to view natural- history exhibits and art before watching a play, a movie, and a dance performance. On the third day, she'd greet the dawn again, then take in the sights and sounds of New York City-the view from its towering buildings, the colors of the women's dresses, the goods in the store windows. "My eye passes lightly over no single trifle; it strives to touch and hold closely each thing its gaze rests upon." She would cap that last day by seeing "a hilariously funny play, so that I might appreciate the overtones of comedy in the human spirit." She concluded by suggesting to readers: "Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. And the same method can be applied to the other senses. Hear the music of voices, the song of a bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow. Touch each object you want to touch as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and taste again. Make the most of every sense: glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you." SOURCE: BECOME WHO YOU WERE BORN TO BE (see also Sections 2, 4C and 10)by Brian Souza, a book I REALLY LIKED as evidenced by the fact that I have used it in four sections of this newsletter Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 12. Advance planning department A. Lou in Pennsylvania: If you're looking for a different artistic experience and are available, you may want to consider hitting the Kelsey Theater this Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. for the Mercer County Symphonic Band Spring Concert. Admission is FREE. Location: The Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ (609) 570-3333 I'm conducting. The band is comprised of over seventy musicians, ranging in age from 14 to 80. The performance is quite eclectic, including contemporary works, traditional transcriptions, music from Disney feature films with accompanying visuals, selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, portions of the soundtrack from the documentary Victory at Sea, and traditional marches. We're also presenting an inspiring composition titled Heritage of Freedom to which I have added narration and visuals. The music is high quality and the performance is entertaining. B. Cynthia in New Jersey (see also Section 1A): * Move Your Body classes meet every first and third Saturday of the month at 1:30 p.m., so the next one is on Saturday, June 16. No charge, but love donations to the Princeton Center are always appreciated. Location: Princeton Center for Yoga and Health Montgomery Professional Center 50 Vreeland Drive Suite 506--off Route 206 Skillman, New Jersey For more information: http://ww.princetonyoga.com
609.924.7294 * There will also be a FREE session in my development (Pike Run in Belle Meade) on Monday, June 18, at 7 p.m. Email me for more information: cgreenfield1001@aol.com. _________________________________________________________ PS. Please join me in celebrating Flag Day on June 14 . . . and don't forget that Sunday is Father's Day . . . if you're lucky enough to have your father alive, do try to spend the day with him or at least give him a call; otherwise, take at least some time to remember the "good times" when you had him with you . . . also, join me in praying that we soon get our remaining soldiers back from Iraq and that peace resumes in Israel . . . make it a great week, too! Back To Top ---------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBCRIBE INFORMATION If you or somebody you know wants to subscribe to BLAINESWORLD, have them drop me an e-mail to that effect . . . new readers are always welcome . . . my address is: bginbc@aol.com In the unlikely event you wish to unsubscribe, notify me at the same email address.
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