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BLAINESWORLD  For more information on this spectacular event, please click: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-11142008-1621248.html D. In case you don't typically get down to Section 12, Advance planning department . . . let me repeat something up top that ran in last week's issue: Are you a former or present student of mine? Or has your company or organization been used by my students; e.g., for their term projects? I'm writing to let you officially know that this is the last semester I'll be teaching traditional courses at Bucks County Community College . . . and to mark the occasion, I'm hosting a farewell reception/networking event that I'd very much like you to attend. Date: Tuesday, December 9 Thursday, December 11 is the backup date if there's bad weather Time: 7:29 p.m. Location: Fireside Lounge Dessert will be served . . . if you can make it (hopefully, the answer is YES!), please RSVP to me if you haven't done so already . . . put YES FOR DECEMBER 9 in your subject line . . . more details to follow. A REQUEST: Please share the above invite with any other students on mine that you may know. Thank you! ***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD ***** This week, it goes to Stephen Forbus--president of ProFundraisers Inc. and the driving force behind the aforementioned fundraiser for Bill Lewis. I was amazed how he brought so many individuals and organizations together . . . in large part due to his efforts, more than $22,000 was gained from sponsorship, more than $30,000 in auction items and more than $6,500 in tickets. He did not take one cent for his efforts, which also included serving as the dynamic auctioneer at the event that night. Stephen’s been helping out non-profit organizations as a fundraising consultant for more than five years, and was the Director of Development for two non-profits before beginning his consulting practice. He specializes in helping small and mid-sized non-profit organizations with marketing to their donors, cultivating new donors, volunteer training, event planning, and grant writing. You can find out more about ProFundraisers by clicking: http://www.ProFundraisers.com. If you work with or for a non-profit organization and would like to know how to maximize your fundraising efforts, feel free to send him an email at stephenforbus@comcast.net or give him a call at 215.245.8412. MORE ABOUT STEPHEN: To show you what kind of guy he is, when I told him that I'd like to recognize his efforts, he immediately sent me the following email that he asked to also have included in this week's issue: Todd Buch is the honorary chairperson for this event and has also helped in recruiting other sponsors for the event. I am the event coordinator and have also been involved with recruiting other major sponsors and auction items. Suzy Buehler has been in charge of our auction database and has been a key development person in attracting other major sponsors. Deb Myatt has been in charge of ticket sales and has fielded literally over a hundred calls for tickets. Judy Lofton (our printer) has donated her time and her staff’s time to assemble the program book and print the tickets, item bid sheets, bid record sheets, and program book. Dr. Joel Kravitz, Steve Moran and Paul Lacerte have played key roles in selling tables and tickets. Dan Bates and Marie Kurko have been in charge of decorations and publicity. Ginny Fiorentine from the Center for Independent Living has been receiving checks, cash donations, and keeping track of all income. And Anita Steen (from Steen Outdoor Advertising), Blaine Greenfield, Brian Perchick, Dan Bates, Deb Myatt, Ed MacConnell, Joan Weiss, Joel Kravitz, John Worthington, Marie Kurko, Paul Lacerte, Stacy Kutner, and myself have all been involved with getting items for auction. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 2. FYI My first rule in dining out is to avoid the following: tuna tartare, fried calamari, mixed greens, tomato and mozzarella, Caesar salad, roast or grilled chicken, blackened or poached salmon, crab cakes, and the requisite steak. I have nothing against any of these dishes, but when I go out, I don't want something that (a) even I can make and (b) I have had a million times. Andre's one exception to this rule was his personal holy grail: the perfect burger. SOURCE: SERVICE INCLUDED (see also Sections 4C and 11) by Phoebe Damrosch FYI, part 2 * Diane in Pennsylvania (with an update on her husband Bill; see Section 1B): This is Bill's email address for those of you who would like to shoot him an email: billlewis1024@aol.com . . . note: 3 l's Bill is making more and more progress at home. The nurse and the therapists come to the house, and he is learning to get around the house in his wheelchair doing things he had done before. We went to the surgeon on Tuesday. The break in his neck did not heal yet. The surgeon put a soft collar on Bill now, and he will be weaned off of that within a few weeks. The surgeon informed us that if the bone does not heal in another three months, he will have to possibly fuse the bone in his neck. Please continue to keep us in prayer and thank you all for your support! * Rebecca in Michigan (on traveling with cats): An article I came across in a well-known magazine stated: About traveling with your cat: Dr. Shawn says it is really up to you. If your cat travels well in the car, it would certainly be cheaper and easier for both of you. In the doctor's experience, most cats tend to do just fine on road trips, given that a car ride allows you more freedom to comfort your cat along the way. But if you know your cat won't tolerate a car ride well, you can fly with it instead. Most airlines allow cats to travel on planes with their owners as "carry-on" in an approved carrier--always a better choice than isolating an animal with the baggage. Fees very depending on the airline. However, make sure your cat isn't wailing the whole time. Passengers having to sit near it won't appreciate hearing it cry. To ease your cat's anxiety during travel either way, try giving the cat a few drops of Rescue Remedy (a widely available flower essence helpful for mild anxiety, now sold in a formula especially for pets) as often as needed. Other herbal products with similar calming properties is NutriCalm by RX Vitamins and Composure Liquid from Vetri Science. For a simple remedy, you may also turn to lavender or chamomile oil. Both have soothing, calming properties and help many anxious pets enjoy a more pleasant ride. Put one or two drops on a cotton ball or cloth, and place into the pet's carrier. Or dilute a small amount of either oil with two parts water in a spray bottle and mist on the floor of your car about 30 minutes before traveling. Any of these solutions might work alone, or you can try a combination approach. Talk to your vet about the best plan for your cat. I myself thinks a cat does better traveling in the car, knowing what he hears is his owner's voice and is talked to along the way. My cats have always done pretty well in the car knowing that I was right there with them. * Lorraine in New Jersey: Do you know someone who needs help with their small business? REFER THEM TO US! We provide FREE expert counseling on: Balancing your Business During a Recession Writing Effective Business & Strategic Plans Identifying Financing Resources Establishing your Web Presence Marketing Strategies Doing Business with the Government Human Resources And more! You already know about the NJSBDC, but does your family, friends and associates? If you know someone who has their own business and could use some help being pointed in the right direction, we can help! Refer them to our website: and the Existing Business Assessment Survey.
Then we will set them up with a consultant to help.
Providing free confidential one-to-one meetings and low-to-no cost accessible management training, we can help them meet their challenges. We can also be reached via email: NJSBDC@TCNJ or by phone, 609.771.2947. * Bob in New Jersey (on an 11.10 article I sent him from THE WALL STREET JOURNAL about the use of Pracvachol--even for healthy people): Fact: I have been on Pravachol for about six years. My cholesterol was borderline, but a cardiac surgeon told me I should take it because he thought ALL people should take it. He said it makes your vessels like Teflon. NOTHING STICKS TO IT!! Came to realize that almost ALL the doctors I knew were taking it, including skinny marathon runners. The studies were not in yet but throughout the medical community the word was out. Fact: My cholesterol was 190 when I started taking it. Now my cholesterol is 100. 60 HDL, 40 LDL. I am happy with that. Losing weight (140 lbs) helped that a lot. Fact: When heart surgeons see a patient on Friday and they say we will do a bypass on Monday . . . they put the patient on statins over the weekend. They tell me the blood vessels just act better; it gives them new life. Fact: I also take some drugstore Niacin. This helps get the HDL up. Ask your doctor; it works. Fact: Do not use too much grapefruit or grapefruit juice if you are on a statin. Also, take the statin at night because it is at night that your liver produces cholesterol. Fact: Just start asking doctors personally if they are on a statin. You will be amazed. They take care of each other and they pass the word. I know many docs who are taking samples the drug reps give them! Fact: Note that the biggest concern in the article was cost. How much will we spend on prevention? This really is a miracle drug, as far as we know right now. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 3. Thanksgiving dinner The new bride wanted everything to be perfect for the Thanksgiving dinner she was hosting for her in-laws. So she called the turkey hotline and said, “I bought a 12-pound bird. How long does it need to cook?” “Just a minute,” said the hotline operator, paging though her reference book. “Thanks!” said the bride as she hung up. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 4. Reviews A. Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott play two men who are hardly model citizens in ROLE MODELS, a very funny comedy . . . when their bad behavior puts them in trouble with the law, they soon must complete community service in a Big Brothers-type program . . . Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who made his debut as in SUPERBAD, continues to impress me here in what's essentially a costarring role . . . the language is foul; however, if you can get past that, you'll find that the laughs never stop coming . . . there was also a ending that was surprisingly touching . . . rated R. B. TROPIC THUNDER is now out in DVD format . . . my review from BLAINESWORLD #626 follows: B. TROPIC THUNDER is still out in a few theaters . . . catch it, if you can; if not, put it on your list of films to rent when it comes out on DVD . . . it is a satire about Hollywood movie-making that had me laughing throughout . . . Ben Stiller, who also directed, stars as an action hero who has begun making many bad career choices . . . to redeem himself, he takes on a role in a Vietnam war flick that becomes complicated by the fact that real life druglords capture him . . . he is joined by Jack Black as an insecure comedy star going through heroin withdrawal and a very funny Robert Downey Jr.--so lost in his art that he undergoes an operation to become black . . . rated R. C. SERVICE INCLUDED (see also Sections 2 and 11) by Phoebe Damrosch had me hooked when I read the back cover and its WARNING: May contain material offensive to vegans, pharmaceutical lobbyists and those on a low-sodium diet. Animals were harmed during the writing of this book. Now that sounded like something I would want to read . . . and I did--with delight. Damrosch, upon graduation from college, supported herself as a waitress . . . she soon became the only female captain at Per Se, the four-star New York City restaurant . . . this book presents her account of what life in this industry is all about. I laughed at some at some of the rules she had to follow, such as Rule #20: * When asked, guide guests to the bathroom instead of pointing. Her take on this was even funnier: * I understand the logic of this. I hate wandering around restaurants, opening broom closets and storage rooms looking for the ladies' room. Even when someone says it's around the corner and to my right, I still manage to end up in the coffee station. At Per Se, unless we were holding plates in our hands, we were expected to show the guest the way. I usually saw them just past the bar because at least a few times a week, guests walked into the glass wall of the wine cellar; and if they didn't walk away with a bloody nose, they certainly walked away with less dignity. After selling them the very wine that clouded their minds and blurred the line between air and glass, it hardly seemed fair to let them go unsupervised. Once past the danger zone, however, I gestured down the hallway to the well-marked bathrooms and let the guest take it from there. Even so, some of the men seemed a bit uncomfortable, as if I planned to accompany them in and help. The eighteen percent you will leave me, sir, I always wanted to say, would not cover that. In addition, the author provided many useful tips for diners; among them: * Please do not ask us what else we do. This implies that (a) we shouldn't aspired to work in the restaurant business even if it makes us happy and financially stable, (b) that we have loads of time on our hands because ours is such an easy job, and (c) that we are not succeeding in another field. * Don't send something back after eating most of it. Lastly, I enjoyed reading Damorsch's account of her love affair with a sommelier . . . it enabled me to feel like I got to know them both better, especially after reading this one exchange: * "Who are you?" Andre demanded when I refused an ice cream cone a few weeks later. "The woman I fell in love with never said no to ice cream." "The woman you fell in love with could also stand to lose a few pounds." "Are you kidding? My prenup is going to have a weight minimum. You lose a pound, I dock you." Yup, this one was worth fighting for. SERVICE INCLUDED is a MUST for anybody in the restaurant industry, though I think that just about anybody else who eats out will enjoy it too.
D. A CD's title can often intrigue me . . . such was the case with HOW TO START A CONVERSATION by Don Gabor, a communications consultant/author. Gabor promises on the cover that "you'll be amazed at how fast you can learn how to start a conversation just by listening" to his audiobook "and by practicing the skills with everyone you meet!" Furthermore, he urges listeners to "just think of how much more confident, poised and successful you'll feel when you can walk into a roomfull of strangers and strike up a conversation with anyone there." I don't know if anybody will get to quite that level after just one time listening to this CD, but methinks that several times will certainly get you moving in the right direction . . . there were many good examples; what I liked most was the fact that several of them were actually acted out in the program. Although this was a relatively short program, I nevertheless gained much information from it; among the tidbits were the following: * By initiating more conversations, you'll reduce your fear of rejection. * Taking the risk to start a conversation gives you the opportunity to guide it. * Look for people doing what you like doing--e.g., dancing--then go up to them. * Three easy ways to start a conversation: Notice something positive and ask the person a question, notice something the person is wearing and ask a question and comment on the situation you're both in and ask a question. * Right after you meet somebody, say his or her name aloud. Then repeat it as often as possible. * Self-disclosure is a way of sharing information about yourself. Make it positive. Gabor also provided the narration for this CD . . . overall, he seems to really know his stuff . . . consequently, I wouldn't mind reading and/or listening to something else from him. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 5. TV alert A. THE IFC MEDIA PROJECT debuts on Tuesday at 8 p.m.on IFC . . . this program attempts to give a sobering wake-up call to anyone who takes at first value . . the first episode focuses on "news taboos" or subjects the media either embraces wholeheartedly or totally shies away from addressing . . . there will also be an examination of the media's frequent use of the word "allegedly" . . . Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on IFC. B. OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING stars Jaqueline Bisset as high-society woman who looks down on her financially strapped daughter . . . it is an adaptation of a short story by Louisa May Alcott . . . Saturday at 9 p.m. on HALLMARK. C Although not a big fan of the regular series, I will probably watch 24: REDEMPTION on Sunday at 8 p.m. on FOX . . . to quote TV GUIDE, this prequel to January's seventh season "is a shot of pure adrenaline and deluxe action filmmaking." D. COLBERT CHRISTMAS: THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL airs on Sunday at 10 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL . . . Stephen Colbert welcomes Elvis Costello, Jon Stewart, Willie Nelson and even a bear to his cabin. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 6. Ravioli An elderly Italian man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite ravioli wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength and lifted himself from the bed. Gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen, where if not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon waxed paper on the kitchen table were hundreds of his favorite ravioli. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? He threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a crumpled posture. His parched lips parted, the wondrous taste of the ravioli was already in his mouth. With a trembling hand he reached up to the edge of the table, when suddenly he was smacked with a wooden spoon by his wife. "F*CK OFF!" she said. "Those are for the funeral." Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 7. Websites A. Want to look up the definition of a word? If so, please click: http://www.definr.com/ I further like the option to learn a new word every day . . . when you do, you'll also be provided with a notable quote that actually uses the word . . . for instance: dreck http://definr.com/dreck n : (slang) merchandise that is shoddy or inferior [syn: schlock, shlock] Notable quote [On the American tax code] If I wanted to be bored by 6,000 pages of unreadable dreck, I'd read WAR AND PEACE four times.--Lewis Black B. If you like to laugh over the simple and enjoyable acts of cooking, eating and drinking, please click: http://www.ingestandimbibe.com/
There are various articles listed on this website's main page and viewers can entertain themselves by reading humorous postings--such as this first one: How (Not) To Cook, Serve and Carve A Thanksgiving Turkey. C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net To make it easy for your friends, relatives and colleagues to subscribe, feel free to forward the website to them . . . then encourage them to check out the "Special Offer" at the bottom of the homepage. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 8. Computer tip When your computer is loading something (an article, a website, etc.), my recommendation is to let it load completely before attempting another task . . . this will greatly reduce the amount of times you get booted off when on the computer . . . also, in the long run, this tip will reduce the amount of stress in your life--particularly if you give up the idea that watching your monitor will make things run more smoothly. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 9. Rebukes and insults, Part 2 of 2 (concluded from last week) "He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know."--Abraham Lincoln "You've got the brain of a four-year-old boy, and I bet he was glad to get rid of it."--Groucho Marx "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it."--Groucho Marx "He has the attention span of a lightning bolt."--Robert Redford "He loves nature in spite of what it did to him."--Forrest Tucker "His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."--Mae West "She is a peacock in everything but beauty."--Oscar Wilde "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."--Oscar Wilde "He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."--Oscar Wilde "He has Van Gogh's ear for music."--Billy Wilder Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 10. A quote I like I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, after all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all. Leo C. Rosten (1908-1977), American writer Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 11. Thought for the day In my opinion, a good diner must pass three tests. First, it must have more booths than tables. Second, the patty melt should be revered; I should not have to specify rye or choose a cheese. Most important, a chocolate milkshake must be made with chocolate ice cream--not vanilla with chocolate syrup--and it has to be served with the remaining shake in the silver blender cup in which it was made. I learned as a child that diners that skimp on that extra serving of milkshake should not be trusted. When I was young, diners were a place of worship, perhaps because the hamburger (later replaced by the superior patty melt), fries, and chocolate milkshake my parents allowed were like manna to a child who grew up on rabbits raised out back, potatoes from the garden, and homemade carob-chip cookies. SERVICE INCLUDED (see also Sections 2 and 4C) by Phoebe Damrosch Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 12. Advance planning department A. Robin in Pennsylvania: Jazz Celebration: Big Band playing again on November 20! Join us for some really terrific music. Thursday November 20, 2008 . . . 8:00-10:00 p.m. Poco's Comedy Cabaret (2nd floor) 625 North Main Street Doylestown, PA 215.348.3424 $10 cover; over 21, please! About Jazz Celebration Big Band: Jazz Celebration Big Band was formed in June 2007 by Paul Morris, a professional trombonist from Newtown, PA, to perform jazz standards of the large jazz orchestra genre. Its musicians have performed with Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach, Aretha Franklin, Joe Piscopo, Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, Johnny Ray, The Four Aces, Tony Martin, Nancy Sinatra, Liza Minnellli, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and many others. Jazz Celebration Big Band features vocalist Claudia Perry. B. Natalie in Pennsylvania: We took my niece and nephew, Anna and Brett, to see THE KING AND I at the Kelsey [in West Windsor, NJ] on Saturday night. It was fabulous. The actress (Elizabeth Rzasa) portraying Anna was the star of OKLAHOMA, the one who played Laurie in the version that you saw in Newtown, PA. She was fantastic. Ivan and I couldn't get over how much she’s improved in her dramatic abilities. She gave a sterling performance. The voices were awesome, and it was a terrific theater experience. THE KING AND I runs concludes its run with performances on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon . . . for more information, please click: http://www.mccc.edu/kelseytheatre
C. Figen in Pennsylvania is offering a world-wide Free TeleClass on Monday November 24, at 8 p.m. The topic is "Universal Energy, What It Is and How You Can Benefit From It." There will be a discussion about universal energy and how to access it. In addition, there will be a guided meditation for grounding, protection and energy enhancement, as well as a Q & A session. This guided meditation is a very powerful technique from Lewis Bostwick, the father of Psychic Education in the US. It will help release fear and tension; and transform you by bringing in the light to move forward calmly with confidence. This teleclass is FREE. Your only cost will be your regular long distance charges--if there are any--to dial the tele-conference number. To register, please email Figen with your request: figen@lovethewayyoulive.com. D. Kevin in Pennsylvania: I'm planning my first Growth Coach mini intro workshop on Friday, December 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., lunch included. For more information, please click: http://www.growthcoachpartners.com/ To register, please call 215.345.4566. _________________________________________________________ PS. Thursday, November 20, is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout . . . it was started to encourage smokers to quite for a day in hopes they may quit for good. According to the American Lung Association, within 24 hours of quitting, a person's chance of heart attack decreases, while two weeks after quitting, circulation and lung function improve, and within one year, the risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's. SPECIAL OFFER: If you'd like a FREE copy of THE EASY WAY TO STOP SMOKING by Allen Carr--sent with my compliments--just send an email to my assistant Bridget: hughesbr@bucks.edu . . . put STOP SMOKING BOOK in the subject line . . . in the body of your email, include your name, snail mail address, email address, and phone numbers . . . I only ask that you keep me informed of your progress . . . or of the progress of anybody else you give the book to . . . and, also, that if you get it for yourself or for somebody else, please do what you can to see that the book gets read within 30 days of receipt. As to whether the book will help you, I can tell you that I've given out over 100 copies . . .almost every recipient has reported back to me that it worked. Also, please join me in praying that we soon get our remaining soldiers back from Iraq and that peace resumes in Israel . . . and make it a great week! Back to Top ---------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBCRIBE INFORMATION To subscribe to this publication, please send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put SUBSCRIBE in subject line . . . if you wish to unsubscribe, just send an email to same address and put UNSUBSCRIBE in subject line.
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