|
|
|
BLAINESWORLD
#586
12.24.2007 In this issue: 1. Reflections 2. FYI 3. Anatomy 101 4. Reviews . . . ATONEMENT, etc. 5. TV alert 6. Lateness (with a BRUNETTE JOKE ALERT WARNING) 7. Websites 8. Computer tip 9. Work excuses 10. A quote I like 11. Thought for the day 12. Advance planning department _________________________________________________________ 1. Reflections A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I saw DOUBT at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ . . . this powerful drama is set in a Catholic school in 1964 . . . a strict, conservative nun believes a popular priest has engaged in sexual misconduct with one of his students . . . though she can't absolutely prove it, she raises enough questions that you can't be sure of the priest's guilt or innocence by the end of the play. The staging of DOUBT was superb, as was the acting . . . each of the four characters in the play was perfectly cast: Dylan Chalfy as Father Flynn, Ann Dowd as Sister Aloysius, Meghan Andrews as Sister James, and Rosalyn Coleman as Mrs. Muller. Unfortunately, we saw the above the day before it closed its run . . . so if you want to catch it, look elsewhere . . . you'll be glad you did, too, in that the play has won both the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This is the second play we have seen at the George Street Playhouse; it won't be the last . . . performers are typically members of Actors Equity and prices are quite reasonable . . . upcoming shows will feature Rosemary Harris in OSCAR AND THE PINK LADY and Marlo Thomas in ROGER IS DEAD (written and directed by Elaine May). For more information, please click: http://gsponline.org/ B. I've wanted to go to the Cereality Cereal Bar and Cafe ever since it opened some four years ago in Philadelphia . . . but finally we got there, accompanied by our friend Lois who had come in to visit from Arkansas. See below for a picture of the three of us:  You can choose from over 30 different cold cereals and some
50 different toppings . . . in addition, there are a variety of hot oatmeal options . . . I had Country Inn Crunch, which combined granola and Frosted Flakes with maple and apples . . . Cynthia had Apple Pie a-la-Bowl, which had oatmeal cooked with apples, caramel sauce and streusel topping . . . Lois had Peachy Keen, which to quote from the menu, had "oatmeal that's kinda peachy, kinda cranberryish, kinda sweet, kinda nutty, kinda crunchy, kinda chewy" . . . all were winners. Our only disappointment is that there aren't any locales very close to us--at least not at present . . . we visited the one at 3631 Walnut Street (near the University of Pennsylvania); 215.322.1162 . . . for more information, please click: http://www.cereality.com C. My Subaru Forester broke down on me the other night . . . it just wouldn't start . . . this was the first time after over 100,000 miles that I've ever experienced any real difficulty with the car, and methinks that the repair shouldn't be too difficult--or, hopefully, not that expensive. It got me thinking about the famous quote: I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet . . . things could well have been worse, and for that I was most grateful. Zig Ziglar, the noted motivational speaker and author, maintains a similar attitude whenever he travels . . . if his plane is delayed, he never gets upset . . . his thinking is that he would much rather be late than have the pilot take off in unsafe conditions. So reflecting on my situation, I was in a safe situation at the time (getting gas for my car) . . . AAA came shortly thereafter and towed me to a nearby service station that I use . . . and Cynthia was home, thus she was able to pick me up within a few minutes. Furthermore, we don't even need my car this coming week since we'll be away in Florida visiting Risa for her birthday . . . at the same time, we'll be visiting four different retirement communities that we will check out in case we choose to make that state our next home. D. CONGATULATIONS to Lisa Gable on being featured at the small business website maintained by inc.com . . . you can see her by clicking: http://www.inc.com/8over80?partner=aolsb She is the one toward the bottom with the title, "The Grandmother of Invention." CONGRATULATIONS, also, to Carol Reese who left Bucks County Community College (our loss!) to fill the position of Director of Institutional Research at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA . ***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD ***** This week, it goes to Richard--aka Operator 62237--an employee at the iPod Help Desk. He recently helped Cynthia with difficulties she was having with her iPod . . . I'll let her tell the story: Woke up on a Sunday, anticipating a dreaded experience of waiting a long time to get tech support on my iPod. I am technically challenged and need a very special person to walk me through such things. So what a surprise I had when I called and after only 5 minutes was put on the phone with Richard. Richard must have spent over an hour with me as I asked him to slowly walk me through all the steps that were necessary to correct problems I was having on both my iPod and iTunes library on my computer. The phone connection was bad at first, and Richard patiently answered my many questions at least three times each. Finally, Richard was nice enough to call me back on my home phone. Richard should be acknowledged for his amazing patience and pleasant attitude. And his willingness to go through even the simplest of processes with me in a calm, clear, understandable fashion. Thanks, Richard, for fixing the problem and making sure that all my questions were answered. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 2. FYI The first thing the professor taught him was to insist that students take notes. Unless a person is one of the 0.0001 percent of the population who has photographic ears, listening alone will not make that person learn. In fact, three hours after a seminar or class, pure listeners will remember only about 50 percent of what they just heard. Twenty-four hours later, they will have forgotten 50 percent of that. At the end of one month, they will have less than 5 percent recall of the new material they were exposed to at the seminar. SOURCE: KNOW CAN DO! (see also Section 4C) by Ken Blanchard, Paul J. Meyer and Dick Ruhe FYI, part 2 * Mark [Sandborn, author of YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE TO BE A LEADER--reviewed in last week's issue]: Thanks for the great review--I appreciate it! As an author, I especially like the thoroughness and thoughtfulness you apply to your reviews. Easy to see why you're a top reviewer at Amazon. By the way, I'm an avid reader and if there are any books you particularly recommend for my consideration, I'd be interested. FOR MY RECOMMENDATIONS: Please feel free to catch many of my past recommendations by clicking: http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2HM0BZWQRV1EF/ref=cm_pdp_reviews_see_all/102-7903257-6833705 * Joanne in Pennsylvania: Thanks for the update on Barbara Trent. I used to go see her every week when she was at the Yardley Inn. Lost track of her for a while, but she is fabulous. I'll have to make Il Sol a port of call. * Sandy in Pennsylvania: Walkin' After Midnight . . . great version by Kevin Jameson . . . much more mellow that the one we line dance to here. If you like this song, check out the GrooveGrass101 album (1998) by the GroovegrassBoyz. The walkin' dance is so fun and can be found on YouTube.
* Donna in New Jersey [commenting on football jokes in a recent issue]: OOOH that hurt. I'm a huge EAGLES fan! You must be a Giants fan? Wait until next year . . . LOL! IN REALITY: I like the Eagles, too. The joke was actually sent to me by a big Eagles fan. And THANKS to the several folks who have already written about our eventual move from Belle Mead to a location still to be determined . . . here's just a sampling of the responses that have been received to date:
* Ginger in Florida: The Villages are really nice . . . we have friends living there. We also have clients who have moved back to south Florida because it was hotter there in the summer than it is here. The central part of the state is really hot and muggy. When I got divorced, I watched the weather for two years to decide where to move. It's 10 degrees warmer in the winter in Palm Beach and Broward counties and 10 degrees cooler in the summer than the west coast of Fl or the Orlando (central FL) area. North Carolina is gorgeous, but I'm not sure they'll have the kind of communities you're looking for. That's especially true if you're looking for a community that is predominately Jewish. About 3 years ago everyone was moving from here to Ft. Pierce . . . they're all coming back because there's nothing to do. I know you like theater, eating out, etc. West Palm and Lauderdale are both good for that. I originally moved to Boca to be halfway between the two to "double" the cultural experiences. If you chose south Palm Beach county, i.e., Delray, Boynton or Boca, there are dozens of communities to chose from. Go to our website and search for properties down here . . . might help you decide: http://www.eisenrod.com PS. You won't find a basement in South Florida . . . it would rapidly become an indoor pool. * Cathy in Massachusetts: I have spent the last 7 Christmases at The Villages with my ex and his wife and our kids. My name for it is "Disney World for Adults". There is everything anyone could ask for in terms of amenities. If I were you, rather than look at a new construction house, I would go for one of the re-sales . . . they were built in the days when, to quote your story at the end, they were really focusing on the clients' needs! And these homes were truly custom built and NOT cookie cutter. They live in the first village.The people are friendly. So good luck to you and Cynthia . . . hey, isn't it about time you call her your "wife" maybe? Or will she always be your bride?? * Deb in Colorado: My parents have lived since 1996 in the Homestead in Columbus, NJ. Their home is lovely (no basement), but all the rest of the things on you list with easy access to the NJ TPK, and I295/95, just off of Route 206 and close to the Columbus Market. I don't know if the shore is a draw for you guys, but it is only an hour to Cape May from their house. The community is gated, has 24 hour live security and an amazing clubhouse with a beautiful outdoor pool. They have all kinds of activities and trips . . . years ago I bought many tickets to go with them to see the New York City Opera . . . 2nd Ring Seats and a luxury bus that dropped us off right at Lincoln Center for $70.00. Couldn't beat it. They do lots of tours to great places. * Tim in West Virginia: Good luck finding a basement of ANY KIND in any house in FL. All of the land is barely above sea level. Having owned property there since the 50s, I can speak with knowledge concerning this "want"! * Pat in Pennsylvania: If possible, my suggestion is to live in Florida or somewhere in the south for say 1/2 the year or part of the year. I would suggest to live there say between New Years and April. Or, how about something like this . . . I have a neighbor who has a time share in someplace like South Carolina. Anyway, he bought eight weeks a year of the time share. He takes two weeks there four times a year. He says this way he has a vacation or something to look forward to all the time.He spends six weeks up here and then two weeks down there 4Xs a year. He says this set up always gives him something to look forward to. So its kind of nice to help keep the boredom out of things too. Pretty neat idea, huh? He gets to enjoy the newness and cleanliness of the time share and all the fun of a vacation, but does not have to worry about maintenance or upkeep, etc. All the maint., repairs, cleaning and remodeling are all done for him. Plus in a timeshare setting not everyone uses their weeks so the place really doesn't get as much wear and tear as a place where you live there year round. He loves it. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 3. Anatomy 101 First-year students at Texas A&M's Vet school were receiving their first anatomy class with a real dead cow. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet. The professor started the class by telling them, "In Veterinary Medicine, it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor: The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the animal body." For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his finger in the butt of the dead cow, withdrew it and stuck it in his mouth. "Go ahead and do the same thing," he told his students. The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes, but then eventually took turns sticking a finger in the anal opening of the dead cow and sucking on it. When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said, "The second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention. "Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid." Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 4. Reviews A. The coming attractions for ATONEMENT had me looking forward to the film with great excitement . . . and when I read some reviews, I was even more enthusiastic about seeing what looked like an epic love story . . . what I saw was something that had me close to walking out within the first half hour.
The story about an upper-class British family in 1935 started ever so slowly; in fact, I found myself nodding off during the first hour . . . things got slightly more interesting afterwards, but the problem was that I cared little about any of the characters . . . Keira Knightley almost looked like she was bored by her role . . . only James McAvoy--almost always watchable--kept my interest . . . rated R. IF YOU ALSO LIKE McAVOY: Rent RORY O'SHEA WAS HERE, one of his first starring roles . . . he is superb as one of two young men who band together to savor life on their own terms. B. THE BOURNE UTLIMATUM is now out in DVD format . . . my review from BLAINESWORLD #573 follows: I rarely like the second in a series of films, let alone the third . . . but THE BOURNE UTLIMATUM proved to be a rare exception, in that it was probably the best of the trilogy so far--and left me awaiting what I hope will be future episodes . . . there's non-stop action as Bourne (again well-played by Matt Damon) races around the world to uncover secrets of his identity . . . I also liked the work of Joan Allen and David Strathairn as battling CIA directors . . . rated PG-13. C. I love to read and try get through at least 1-2 books each week . . . by the same token, I love to learn and enjoy attending both seminars and training programs . . . but that said, I often don't remember what I have learned--and alas, I rarely put it into practice. That is why I found the premise of KNOW CAN DO! (see also Section 2) by Ken Blanchard, Paul J. Meyer and Dick Ruhe so fascinating . . . or as the subtitle points out: PUT YOUR KNOW-HOW INTO ACTION, which is just what I need to do more often. The authors contend that one of the first things that needs to be done is to spend some more time on reading . . . as one of the characters in the book points out: * "The first time I read a book I decide I want to learn from, I just read it straight through to get a sense of it. The second time I read it and underline the key concepts. The third time I might take notes. The fourth time I could choose to read it with a learning partner. And it is important to do all this over a period of time. We all have to develop our own strategy to keep our interest and zero in on what we want to apply and use in our lives." By the same token, people need to spend more time when considering a new idea--as evidenced by this passage: * "I've found that when people are first exposed to a new idea, they reject it, because it conflicts with their preconceived ideas. The second time they're exposed to a new idea, they resist it, because they can't accept it. The third time they're exposed to a new idea they partially accept it but have reservations as to its use. The fourth time people are exposed to a new idea, they fully accept it, because they feel it expresses what they've been thinking. The fifth time they're exposed to a new idea, they partially assimilate it, by using it themselves. The sixth time they're exposed to a new idea, they fully assimilate it by owning it and passing it along to others." I also liked how Blanchard, Meyer and Ruhe summarize well-known management concepts in other sections of this book, such as when they present the following from THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER: * "Of all the things I've ever taught or written about, the most important to me is the power of catching people doing things right," said the author. "To me, the key to helping people develop and creating a great organization is to accentuate the positive. When it comes to training people and helping them develop, I always tell managers, 'Don't wait until people do things exactly right before you praise them.' In the beginning, their performance may be only approximately right. But that should be praised. Praise progress, because you're dealing with a moving target. Then you can correct them or, as I would say, redirect them so they can continue to improve." My only disappointment in KNOW CAN DO! was the fable format that Blanchard made famous in his other books . . . the story here just didn't have anything that drew me into it, though I did gain value from many of the principles that were highlighted. D. Heard the taped version of DOUBLE TAP by Steve Martini . . . this is the author's eighth legal thriller starring attorney Paul Maddriani . . . and though I haven't read all of them, I've enjoyed several of them--and would add this one to that list. It is the story of a beautiful woman who owns a computer software company . . . in addition, she drives a red Ferrari and gives a $200 tip to have it parked . . . but just as I found myself wanting to know more about her, she is killed (very early into the book) by two shots in her head by an obviously talented assassin. A career soldier is the obvious suspect, and the evidence against him seems indisputable . . . yet Martini kept my interest, in large part because of the many engrossing details of the trial . . . there are also many lively characters, as well as catchy dialogue. Joe Montagna's excellent narration greatly added to my enjoyment of DOUBLE TAP. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 5. TV alert A. FUNNIEST COMMERCIALS OF THE YEAR has Kevin Nealon hosting a look at 50 of the year's most humorous TV ads . . . Wednesday at 9 p.m. on TBS. B. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED tells the story behind everyday objects . . . it promises to be humorous new series for 2008; however, on Thursday at 10 p.m. on DISCOVERY you can catch a preview and find out all you ever wanted to know--and then some--about the origins of toothpaste. C. Somebody could win as much as $50,000 on Friday night's episode of SINGING BEE on at 8 p.m. . . . but to do so, they'll need to know the lyrics to the openings of such classic TV shows as GILLIGAN'S ISLAND and THE BRADY BUNCH. D. SAMANTHA WHO? is my choice for the funniest new show of the year . . . if you haven't seen this Christina Applegate sitcom about a woman with amnesia, you can catch four encore episodes on Saturday at 8 p.m. on ABC. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 6. Lateness (with a BRUNETTE JOKE ALERT WARNING) Frankly, I'm tired of jokes about redheads . . . they're often tasteless and mean-spirited, and they almost always make redheads look stupid . . . so I personally find it sooooo refreshing when some other group is used; e.g., blondes . . . but since we all know how smart these women are, methinks it is high time to choose another hair color--such as brunette; hence, the aforementioned warning for the joke that follows: "How come you're late?" asks the bartender as the brunette waitress walks in the door. "It was awful," she explains. "I was walking down Elm street and there was this terrible accident. A man was lying in the middle of the street; he was thrown from his car. His leg was broken, his skull was fractured, and there was blood everywhere. Thank goodness, I took that first aid course--all my training came back to me in a flash." "What did you do?" asks the bartender. "I sat down and put my head between my knees to keep from fainting!" Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 7. Websites A. If you are watching your calories, please click: http://www.calorieking.com/foods/ This website is an excellent food database. It provides the latest facts on fast food restaurants, frozen meals, candy, dairy products, alcohol, and much more. It also gives the exact calories, fat content, fiber content, and protein content for each product as well as information on how to lose weight. There's also great dieting information: e.g.: Watch portion sizes. A plain pizza slice may appear to have 320 calories, but only if it’s 1/12th of a pie. B. Nicholas in New Jersey, one of the students in Cynthia's school, sent her the following: If you go to this website: http://www.letssaythanks.com You can pick out a thank you card. Xerox will then print it and send it to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. How amazing it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one. It is FREE, and it only takes a second. IS THIS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? I checked it out myself and found that the above website is legitimate . . . to see for yourself, please click: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/letssaythanks.asp C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net In case you've never looked at it before, check each of the sections on the left . . . when you do, put your cursor anywhere on the picture of my body (on the right) . . . then make sure you watch my eyes as you drag your cursor to the left. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 8. Computer tip To make your computer run more smoothly and speed it up at the same time, just use a simple utility program built into Windows called Disk Defragmenter . . . the process if quite simple, and you'll be delighted with the results . . . for more information, please click: http://www.compukiss.com/care-maintenance/defragging-your-hard-drive-2.html Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 9. Work excuses 1. “I'm too drunk to drive to work.” 2. “I accidentally flushed my keys down the toilet.” 3. “My boyfriend’s snake got loose and I'm afraid to leave the bedroom until he gets home." 4. “I'm too fat to get into my work pants.” 5. “My house lock jammed, and I'm locked in.” 6. “I was abducted by terrorists, but I escaped about 5 p.m.” SOURCE: CareerBuilder.com survey on worker absenteeism Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 10. A quote I like Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.--Harold B. Melchart MR. CURIOUS HERE: Who is Harold B. Melchart? I've seen this quote at several websites, but not one provided accurate information about the person. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 11. Thought for the day Please compare your life vs. his (see below) the next time you think you have it rough: You stay up for 16 hours. He stays up for days on end. You take a warm shower to help you wake up. He goes days or weeks without running water. You complain of a "headache" and call in sick. He gets shot at as others are hit and keeps moving forward. You put on your anti-war/don't support the troops shirt and go meet up with your friends. He still fights for your right to wear that shirt. You make sure you're cellphone is in your pocket. He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags. You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you. He knows he may not see some of his buddies again. You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls. He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists. You complain about how hot it is. He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow. You go out to lunch and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong. He doesn't get to eat today. Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes. He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean. You go to the mall and get your hair redone. He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today. You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over. He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months. You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight. He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home. You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday. He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume. You roll your eyes as a baby cries. He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet. You criticize your government and say that war never solves anything. He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting. You hear the jokes about the war and make fun of men like him. He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded. You see only what the media wants you to see. He sees the broken bodies lying around him. You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't. He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger. You stay at home and watch TV. He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat. You crawl into your soft bed with down pillows and get comfortable. He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long. If you support your troops, send this to seven people and say a little prayer for our soldiers before you go to sleep. Also, please consider sending them some of the cards mentioned in Section 7B. If you don't support your troops, well, then, forget about sending this out. It's not like you know the men and women who are dying to preserve your rights. But, nevertheless, do say a little prayer for them. And please consider sending them some of the cards mentioned in Section 7B. Author unknown (if you know who wrote this and/or the source, please let me know) Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 12. Advance planning department A. At Princeton Center for Youth and Health: * Spirit Group Reading Saturday, December 29. 5:00-7:00 p.m. $75. Just added to our schedule! These group readings will happen with psychic medium, Trish Woods, in a gallery style setting, with each attendee receiving a reading and is being presented by PCYH for our students. The afternoon will prove to be fun and informative as Spirit has a lot to say! Laughter, validations, and loving warmth will make this afternoon fun and informative for all in attendance. All who attend will get a reading with Trish. There are just 12 spots for each program, so sign up now. * "Wring" in the New Year! Tuesday, January 1. 3:00. 4:30 p.m. $25. Inaugurate the New Year with a rigorous hatha class with Tori Jueds designed to cleanse and energize the body and to center the mind. The theme of this class will be twists--poses that (to quote B.K.S. Lyengar) "squeeze and soak" the organs, expelling toxin-filled blood and making way for freshly oxygenated blood. Twists are also essential to lengthening and strengthening the muscles and connective tissues of the spine; they therefore contribute immeasurably to spinal health and good posture. In this class we will literally wring out the body after whatever excesses you may have indulged in on New Year's Eve--with everything from simple seated twists like Matsyendrasana to standing twists such as Parivrtta Trikonasana. We will also work on strengthening the core muscles and opening the heart with some invigorating backbends, and we will get 2008 off to an energetic start with an inversion or two. Anybody is welcome, regardless of your degree of experience with yoga. Sign up now! For information, please click: http://www.princetonyoga.com B. At Barnes and Noble, Princeton: Date: Tuesday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. Event: Author Discussion/Signing: SHARON SAKSON: The Healing Power of Dogs Television producer, author and dog breeder Sharon Sakson presents tales of remarkable dogs and their healing effects on the people they love. For example: Cocker spaniels that can detect hard-to-detect prostate cancer! Join us for an enlightening evening discussing Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs followed by a Q&A session and signing. Therapy groups, dog clubs, and others who work in the healing professions or with animals will particularly enjoy this event. All are welcome! For more information, email crm2646@bn.com or call 609.716.1570. _________________________________________________________ PS. Please join me in wishing all readers who celebrate Christmas and/or Kwanzaa a very happy holiday . . . and to put you in the spirit, please click and make sure you see the part after a brief commercial: http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=1367 Also, kindly 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.
|
