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#635
12.1.2008 In this issue: 1. Reflections 2. FYI 3. Cheap therapy 4. Reviews . . . HAPPY-G0-LUCKY, etc. 5. TV alert 6. Attitude 7. Websites 8. Computer tip 9. Real newspaper headlines, part 2 of 2 10. A quote I like 11. Thought for the day 12. Advance planning department _________________________________________________________ 1. Reflections A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I have been just a tad bit busy lately . . . we were both working full-time and at the same time, getting ready for our move to North Carolina. In fact, as I type this, that is where Cynthia now is . . . she is meeting the movers as they unload the truck at our new house . . . she'll be there for a week, getting it ready . . . and then fly back to join me when we drive one our cars down, along with our three cats. That said, let me apologize for being late in getting this week's issue to you . . . my main computer was packed up, so I've had to do the best I can with this new laptop I'm working on . . . I'm just grateful that I still have my desk almost everything else was packed up. B. My last teaching semester at Bucks County Community College is winding down quite well . . . I was particularly pleased with the fine job that my Tuesday night students did on their marketing strategies for the Peace Center in Langhorne, PA . . . for more information about this outstanding organization, please click: http://www.thepeacecenter.org MR. CURIOUS HERE: Many of the student teams suggested that the Peace Center should consider getting involved in Facebook and/or MySpace . . . I then asked my students how many of them were and it seemed everybody was . . . so I'm wondering: is it (past) time for me to do so as well? To date, it seems I've fought the tendency to go that route . . . in fact, I've even declined invitations from many readers to join their networks . . . I'd be curious about your experiences with respect to this subject. C. My work as president of the teacher's union at the College has also kept me quite occupied . . . I had thought this would be an easy semester, but it has proven to be quite the contrary . . . two grievances (one involving the 60-40 ratio of full-time to part-time faculty and the other having to do with salary inequities) are now both slated to go to arbitration in February . . . in addition, we have been in constant discussions about the implementation of something known as dual enrollment, wherein high school students will be able to take college courses at their regular schools taught by their regular teachers. Then I had to deal with a call for my resignation that was distributed by one of my colleagues . . . that same individual next made a motion to the union's steering committee, calling for a vote of no confidence . . . I was gratified by the fact that this motion didn't even get a second; in fact, the proceeded to vote on a motion of confidence in my leadership . . . that passed 29-0 with no abstentions. So as you might imagine, I have chosen not to resign and will be concluding my term as union president this coming spring semester . . . that means, the Bucks County/NJ area is not getting rid of me quite so soon . . . I'll be coming back every other week or so to deal with this part of my job, and at the same time, I'll be continuing to work on my sabbatical project. D. THANKS to Bill in Pennsylvania for sharing the following news item about what's arguably the greatest rock song of all time: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996630.html?categoryid=16&cs=1 To hear the song for yourself, put up your speakers and please click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkVM-jGNn04 THANKS, also, to my brother Ken for sharing this clip about his wife (and my sister-in-law) Lavelle who was recently interviewed about window shopping at Lord & Taylor: http://www.foxbusiness.com/video-search/m/21533207/window-shopping.htm?q=window+shopping ***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD ***** This week, my choice is an easy one: Cynthia--the very same woman who just so happens to double as my wife. She first made it possible to sell our Belle Mead house as easily as we did by getting it ready in about a week's time . . . doing so involved discarding much of the clutter we had both accumulated over the years and, also, "staging" it so it looked just right. Toward that end, she reluctantly put "Karl" [the name I gave her favorite Buddha] into hiding . . . funny story, though . . . only when we brought it out from the closet did we find a buyer . . . almost the very next day. She then got our entire house ready for the movers, again in just about a week's time . . . even they commented on the fact that this helped make their job easy. Amazingly, Cynthia did both of the above tasks while continuing her final few months as a guidance counselor in the Elizabeth Avenue School in Franklin, NJ . . . she just recently retired and will be missed by the many students she has helped over the years. Yet that said, I'm thinking that the school's loss is Asheville's gain . . . she is sure to make an equally significant contribution there! Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 2. FYI Cynthia likes OPRAH, the magazine . . . so I went online to find the best subscription price . . . there was a wide range in prices, but for the most part, they were all within $1-2 of each other . . .I even checked my union's website, but they were virtually no different than the rates I had already checked out. I'm not sure why I decided to check rates at amazon.com . . . there I found a price that was about 1/2 the other rates and for a longer term as well . . . so here's my recommendation: check out amazon.com for a lot more than just books! FYI, part 2 * David in New York: My company General Refining Corp has been active in coordinating Home Gold Buying Parties.We pay outstanding prices for all broken and unwanted gold and silver. Call Dave Greenfield to set up your event or make any inquiries. My number is 646.232.7440; email: Dgreenfield235@aol.com. MY THINKING: I've been reading a lot lately about such parties . . . methinks they could actually be a lot of fun . . . I can also vouch that you won't go wrong with David, in that he's a real good guy who also happens to double as my nephew. * Warren in New Jersey, a longtime BLAINESWORLD reader and Director of Pricing for Pep Boys: I would like to emphasize to all of your readers that the bit about gift cards as it relates to Pep Boys is not at all true (as corroborated by the Snopes.com link you provided). Pep Boys did close some underperforming stores in fiscal year 2007, but, as stated directly last week by its CEO Mike Odell, has no current intentions to close any more stores. Pep Boys still operates nearly 600 stores/service centers in over 30 states, plus Puerto Rico. Pep Boys added, rather than subtracted, store count in fiscal year 2008. People in possession of Pep Boys gift cards can feel free to use them as quickly as they want, but they needn't be concerned about rushing out to do so. While Pep Boys is feeling the same negative affects of the current economic crisis as are other retailers, there is no concern about its imminent demise. * Tom in Pennsylvania [when asked by me for information about his current show playing at the Off-Broadstreet Theatre in Hopewell, NJ]: PLAID TIDINGS is the sequel to FOREVER PLAID. Many new songs, mostly Christmas, with a few repeats. MY TWO CENTS: This show is a lot of fun, appropriate for almost any age (though those over 40 will probably appreciate it most) . . . it stars two of my favorite local performers: Tom and Jim Petro . . . shows run through December 21 . . . for more information, please click:http://www.actorr.com/next.htm * David in Pennsylvania [reacting to my review of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS]: Just read BOOK THIEF . . . much the same subject matter. It is told from the perspective of death. A must read. * Jim in Pennsylvania [about the same movie]: Very, very powerful and good for any young person to see with his or her parents. The audience was stunned silent at the end with many in attendance weeping. * Ginger in Florida [with still another comment on the film] We saw this last weekend and haven't stopped talking about it since. I'm not sure any other move I've seen had such an impact on me. Looking at things through the German's eyes was incredible. * Phil in North Carolina: I was thinking about what you said about your faxing needs. If you send and receive very few faxes a month, the best and cheapest for you would be to do what I do--especially if you're going to be traveling back and forth for the next few months. I use a company called Jconnect. Make sure you use the free version. Faxes come in via email and go out via your regular home phone line. Set up takes a little work, but it's easy after that. Make sure you get the free version. Here's the website: http://www.j2.com/ MY QUESTION: I know there are other companies who do the same thing . . . has any reader used either Jconnect or anybody else for such a service? If so, please share your reaction(s). * CORRECTION; sorry 'bout that: I gave a wrong email address last issue and quickly heard about it from the person who submitted the original item . . . Diane in New Jersey contacted me and asked me to rerun the following with her correct email address: Thanks for the quick mention of the Marketing Club alumni. But my email address is incorrect: dmworth@comcast.net ( (forgot the “m”). Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 3. Cheap therapy According to comedian Nick Cobb, "Everyone needs therapy, but nobody can afford it. What I do for therapy is set up job interviews every week. It totally works. The interviewer says, 'Tell me about yourself.' I say, 'I'm so scrwed up. My parents used to beat me with a stick.' I don't get the job, but I get so much off my chest." Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 4. Reviews A. Poppy is a free-spirited elementary school teacher in Mike Leigh's latest, HAPPY-G0-LUCKY . . . Sally Hawkins is excellent in the title role, and I also liked the work of Eddie Marson as her driving instructor . . . but overall, the film left me flat, and I wouldn't recommend that you rush out to see and/or even rent it . . . rated R. B. STEP BROTHERS is now out in DVD format . . . my review from BLAINESWORLD #619 follows: I dare you not to laugh at STEP BROTHERS, a comedy about two deadbeat man-children thrown together when their single parents marry . . . Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are both hilarious in the title roles . . and though the film drags in the second half, the ending pulls things together nicely . . . there's also one scene that I can't describe in BLAINESWORLD (this being a family publication) that if you see it, you'll long remember it as being one of the funniest--grossest, too--that you'll ever see . . . rated R. C. Imagine attending a graduation and actually being inspired by the commencement address. That happened not too long ago at Sarah Lawrence College when author Ann Patchett spoke to the graduates . . . her remarks became the basis for WHAT NOW? (see also Section 2), an inspiring essay that got me thinking about some of the directions my life has taken--and will continue to take as I approach retirement. They key is for me to do the same thing that Patchett recommended: * To pay attention to the things I'll probably never need to know, to listen carefully to the people who look as if they have nothing to teach me, to see school as something that goes on everywhere, all the time, not just in libraries but in parking lots, in airports, in trees. I need to also be more receptive to learning, wherever it takes place--much along the lines of this following passage: * Receiving an education is a little bit like a garden snake swallowing a chicken egg: it’s in you but it takes awhile to digest. I had come to college from twelve years of Catholic girls’ school. At the time I thought that mine was the most ridiculous, antiquated secondary education in history. We marched in lines and met the meticulous regulations of the uniform code with cheerful submission. We bowed and kneeled and prayed. I held open doors and learned how to write a sincere thank-you note and when I was asked to go and fetch a cup of coffee from the kitchen for one of the nuns I fairly flushed at the honor of being chosen. I learned modestly, humility and how to make a decent white sauce. Lastly, I liked gaining insight into the author's mindset while writing: * I came to understand that fiction writing is like duck hunting. You go to the right place at the right time with the right dog. You get into the water before dawn, wearing a little protective gear, then you stand behind some reeds and wait for the story to present itself. This is not to say you are passive. You choose the place and the day. You pick the gun and the dog. You have the desire to blow the duck apart for reasons that are entirely your own. But you have to be willing to accept not what you wanted to have happen, but what happens. You have to write the story you find in the circumstances you've created, because more often than not the ducks don't show up. The hunters in the next blind begin to argue, and you realize they're in love. You see a snake swimming in your direction. Your dog begins to shiver and whine, and you start to think about this gun that belonged to your father. By the time you get out of the marsh you will have written a novel so devoid of ducks it will shock you. WHAT NOW? is only 97 pages in length, including pictures . . . but don't be put off by that fact . . . you'll enjoy it . . . also, the book will make for an ideal holiday gift. D. For some reason, I wasn't all that big a fan of Fred Rogers when I was younger . . . it's not that I disliked the guy; I just never watched him (nor did my daughter). However, it seems that since he died in 2003, I have taken more of an interest in his work . . . I've read one book about him and when I came across the CD version of LIFE'S JOURNEYS ACCORDING TO MR. ROGERS, I jumped at the opportunity to listen to it. It is a compilation of views held by Rogers on a wide variety of topics, including graduation, job changes, marriage and career choices . . . some stories are presented, and you even hear some singing from him. Yet one thought, in particular, stood out for me: * Here's a gift for yourself. Sometime in your day, try to turn off the noises around you. Try to think about nothing. Some of the many other tidbits that I picked up from this program included the following: * What matters most is not winning, but helping others win. * There is no cure for loneliness. What really matters is our relationship with others. * Try your best to make goodness attractive. This is one of the toughest assignments you'll ever be given. Lastly, this concept also grabbled me: * Take a minute to think about one person who helped make you the person you are. (The person doesn't have to be alive.) Imagine how happy that person would be to know that you were thinking about them. Blair Brown, B.D. Wong and Richard Kind handled the narration . . . their performances added to my enjoyment of the program. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 5. TV alert A. THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR is the tale of a workaholic who finds the real meaning of life after his fiancee dies . . . TV GUIDE describes it as "the kind of TV-movie tissues were made for" . . . Saturday at 9 p.m. on HALLMARK CHANNEL. B. FLIRTING WITH FORTY stars Heather Locklear as a divorced mom who gets her groove back . . . Saturday at 9 p.m. on LIFETIME. C. Patricia Heaton and Treat Williams star as the parents of an ambitious young man with Tourette's Syndrome who dreams of teaching others how to deal with their disability in FRONT OF THE CLASS . . . Sunday at 9 p.m. on CBS. D. Oscar winner Timothy Hutton plays the alcoholic leader of a merry band of modern-day Robin Hoods in LEVERAGE, a new drama on TNT . . . Sundays at 10 p.m. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 6. Attitude A young man named John received a parrot as an early Christmas gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary. Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and shoved him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions, and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior." John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic turnaround in his behavior, the bird continued . . . "May I inquire as to what the turkey did?" Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 7. Websites A. Ever want to find out more about the meaning of your name? If so, please click: http://www.behindthename.com/ For instance, you'd find this about Blaine: From a Scottish surname which was derived from the given name Bláán, which meant "yellow" in Gaelic. Saint Bláán was a 6th-century missionary to the Picts. B. If you'd like to play the classic game of charades, please click:http://www.youcharades.com Simply click on a video and you'll find that someone is acting out the name of a movie, book,song, etc. . . . you can then try to guess what that person is doing. Overall, it's a fun website that you'll find fun to view with both family and friends. C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net In case you're wondering what happens to your name and/or email address if you subscribe to BLAINESWORLD, my online newsletter, please check out my Privacy Statement . . . it can be found by clicking "Newsletter" on the left of the home page, then "Privacy Statement." Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 8. Computer tip Google has begun allowing users to re-rank and edit their search results . . . the SearchWiki tools, as they're called, allow you to log into a Google account (something that I strongly recommend that you set up) to move up results that you find interesting, delete ones that aren't useful and add personal notes. For an excellent overview of what now can be done, please click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Pl1H0dIXE Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 9. Real newspaper headlines, part 2 of 2 (concluded from last week) More that have been excerpted from the "Notebook" pages of NEW REPUBLIC magazine: Man Run Over by Freight Train Dies Los Angeles Times Scientists See Quakes in L.A. Future Portland Oregonian Wachtler Tells Graduates That Life in Jail is Demeaning Buffalo News Free Advice: Bundle Up When Out in the Cold Lexington Herald-Leader Prosecution Paints O.J. as a Wife-Killer Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Economist Uses Theory to Explain Economy Collinsville Herald-Journal Bible Church's Focus is the Bible Saint Augustine Record, Florida Clinton Pledges Restraint in Use of Nuclear Weapons Cedar Rapids Gazette Discoveries: Older Blacks Have Edge in Longevity Chicago Tribune Court Rules Boxer Shorts Are Indeed Underwear Journal of Commerce Biting Nails Can Be Sign of Tenseness in a Person Schenectady, New York, Daily Gazette Lack of Brains Hinders Research Columbus Dispatch How We Feel About Ourselves is the Core of Self-Esteem, Says Author Louise Hart Boulder, Colorado, Daily Camera Fish Lurk in Streams Rochester, New York, Democrat & Chronicle Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 10. A quote I like Once again, we come to the holiday season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.--Dave Barry, American author who wrote a humor column for THE MIAMI HERALD for over 20 years . . . he also won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1988, though to quote from his website, "Many people are still trying to figure out how this happened." For more information about this very funny guy, please click: http://www.davebarry.com/about.html Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 11. Thought for the day The idea was that we should not accidentally wind up with too grand an opinion of ourselves, and frankly I regard this as sound counsel. In a world that is flooded with children’s leadership camps and grown-up leadership seminars and bestselling books on leadership, I count myself as fortunate to have been taught a thing or two about following. Like leading, it is a skill, and unlike leading, it’s one that you'll actually get to use on a daily basis. It is senseless to think that at every moment of our lives we should all be the team captain, the class president, the general the CEO, and yet so often this is what we're being prepared for. No matter how many great ideas you might have about salad preparation or the reorganization of time cards, waitressing is not a leadership position. You're busy and so you ask somebody else to bring the water to table four. Someone else is busy and so you clear the dirty plates from table twelve. You learn to be helpful and you learn to ask for help. It turns out that most positions in life, even the big ones, aren't really so much about leadership. Being successful, and certainly being happy, comes from honing your skills in working with other people. For the most part we travel in groups—you're ahead of somebody for a while, then somebody’s ahead of you, a lot of people are beside you all the way. It’s what the nuns had always taught us: sing together, eat together, pray together. SOURCE: WHAT NOW? (see also Section 4C) by Ann Patchett Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 12. Advance planning department A. Kevin in Pennsylvania: I'm planning my first Growth Coach mini intro workshop for Friday, December 5, 12/5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., lunch included. http://www.GrowthCoachPartners.com FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW MY GOOD FRIEND KEVIN: He's an outstanding creative thinker/teacher/entrepreneur who has been a big help to me in both my career and life . . . consequently, I'm going to attend this event . . . it promises to be a winner! B. LAST CHANCE: 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 of mine that you may know. In addition, if you're with a firm that has worked with my students and/or your know of such a firm, please feel free to share this information with them too. Thank you! C. BE THE MEDICINE 101--a Deeper Awareness of You LEARN AND HEAL DEEPLY TODAY! Saturday, December 6th: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. $150 Please RSVP by FRIDAY at 1 p.m. About the course: Pain is not necessary, and can be removed and released in 5 to 20 minutes. Chronic pain can leave in less than an hour. If there are other things that must be done to release the pain, you will know how to proceed. Would you like to learn these healing secrets and more? Join us today for a class that will change your entire life, health and happiness. The teachings and wisdom of this class is developed by Janet Straightarrow from her 41+ years of work and Being The Medicine for herself. This class represents her vision of harmony, love and truth for all. Deepen and intensify the work from your experiences in the ongoing class or begin your work with this workshop. For more information: Janet StraightArrow 18 Bank St, Suite 300 Morristown, NJ 07960 973.647.2500http://www.oasisforthesoul.com D. Michael in Pennsylvania with information on the next Book Group discussion at Bucks County Community College: December 11: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress: A Novel by Dai Sijie and Ina Rilke (2002) From LIBRARY JOURNAL: This deceptively small novel has the power to bring down governments. In Mao's China, the Cultural Revolution rages, and two friends caught in the flames find themselves shuttled off to the remote countryside for reeducation. The stolid narrator occasionally comforts himself by playing the violin, and both he and more outgoing friend Luo find that they have a talent for entertaining others with their re-creations of films they have seen. A little light comes their way when they meet the stunning daughter of the tailor in the town nearby, with whom Luo launches an affair. But the real coup is discovering a cache of forbidden Western literature including, of course, Balzac that forces open their world like a thousand flowers blooming. The literature proves their undoing, however, finally losing them the one thing that has sustained them. Dai Sijie, who was himself reeducated in early 1970s China before fleeing France, wonderfully communicates the awesome power of literature of which his novel is proof. Highly recommended. We meet in the Rollins Center Quite Study Room, next to the Fireside Lounge at Bucks in Newtown from 7:30-9 p.m. All are welcome to join us on the second Thursday of each month to share your thoughts and questions. For more information, call 215.968.8164 or send email to: hennesse@bucks.edu. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ PS. Please join me in praying that we soon get our remaining soldiers back from Iraq and that peace resumes in Israel . . . also, make it a great week! ---------------------------------------------------------- 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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