Time to breakdown of my latest reads & viewings. (Can you stand the excitement?)
Brave New World - I took this down via PDF on my iBooks app on my iPhone during my iVacation. Everything is better with an "i" in front of it.After reading 1984 about a year ago, I felt I was obligated to go to opposite end of the dystopia spectrum and get reacquainted with this book. (I must confess I never actually read it in high school). For any unfamiliar with the plot, this book is about a perfect future society that has done away with pain and problems through technology and drugs. A savage man from an uncivilized reservation is brought to the Brave New World and havoc ensues.
While I was reading this I kept asking myself would I prefer to live in the 1984 world or this one? I'd like to think I'm tough enough to fight big brother and survive the Ministry of Love and perhaps change the world; but ultimately I'd probably choose to have a boring job, no family a bunch of ultra 3-D movies and Soma vacations. If I rebelled against the system, I'd just have to go live with some other interesting people and die.
For you LDS people, if Satan had his way and got to execute his plan would it look more like 1984 or Brave New World? Personally I don't think anyone would sign up for 1984, but if we were tricked into it, it would be a way to inflict maximum pain and misery on people so I'd have to vote for that one.
Ultimately, the Savage in the this book goes crazy, whipping himself every time he thinks a perverse thought and commits suicide after some bizarre orgy. So neither science or religion (if they have to be set against each other) comes out looking like a winner in this book. [This doesn't exactly make up for not reading the book in Mr. Fair's class, but better late than never].
Murder on the Orient Express - I listened to this a few days ago while driving to Grand Junction. I knew nothing of the plot and really enjoyed it. I must admit, I didn't remotely see the solution and felt like my brain was a pretzel trying to keep track of the facts. The investigator Hercule Poirot (far more enjoyable than Robert Langdon) is a great character with his sense of humor and wit. After finishing, I decided to watch the movie and see the 1974 adaptation. It was in a word: TERRIBLE. I thought it would live up to Murder on the Nile, but it was dreadfully boring and I fell asleep.
Dinner for Schmucks -I saw the French version of this over a year ago and expected the American version to be terrible, but I was mildly surprised. I often find a movie is worth my time if there is one character that grabs my imagination and makes me laugh. In this flick it was Kieran, the modern artist with "ANIMAL MAGNETISM."
This guy just cracked me up. He seemed vaguely familiar to me and later that night I shot up in bed and pronounced to my befuddled Boss that he was the actor was from the Flight of the Chonchords, famous for their unplugged hit, "Business Time." The mind control guy was awesome too. This movie left me in stitches and wondering who I want to be for Halloween this year.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - If you are prone to seizures, don't see this movie. Its a very unique film, played out like a video game with endless pop-ups and lots of teen angst music. The first 10 seconds of the 8-bit Universal logo and theme song set the stage perfectly. Of course, I loved it. I was even more surprised that the Boss loved it. Perhaps more than me. Some random thoughts as I watched this:
Since when is some Goth chick worth fighting for?
I think the Asian girlfriend was Cho Chang from HP. If so, she was tiny in this movie. That makes Dan Radcliffe even smaller in real life.
Brandon Routh has acted once again!!! Now he is an evil super-powered Vegan bass player. Almost unrecognizable from his days as the man-o-steel.
I need to give up on reality and enjoy the show.
The 1-up, replay was a gamer's delight. Very well done. (you'll have to see it).
The use of Zelda music in several scenes nearly brought my inner child to tears.
This is a perfect example of how Sesame Street empowered a generation of idiots with short attention spans.
Ultimately, this is a very interesting movie. Its very high energy and got a bit tedious (for me) but if you love video games and randomness, this should be in your wheel house.
Traning Camp, day 1 and both our #1 and #2 running backs go down with injury. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5438332. And now we're turning to our home grown lard-eater to solve our problems? Something is wrong. Its as though our poor stable of running backs has been cursed. I've wondered about this before in a prior post and called for a public execution of the training staff: http://fletchword.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-dont-deserve-to-win.html. Alas, I have a new theory.
A Death Eater has jinxed the job of Tailback.
Like You-Know-Who jinxing the Defense against the Dark Arts job, our tailbacks have been cursed. But when did this all start? Didn't we used to have the best rushing attack in the leauge? Auto 1,000 yard rushers? When did it all change? I can tell you. The brutal trade of Clinton Portis for Champ Bailey in March 2004. Shannahan believed he was invincible at running back and could plug anyone in there. But this isn't the universe getting even or bad Karma, the real reason our tailbacks are constantly injured is becuase Clinton Portis is a Death Eater who felt shunned by the organization and jinxed the job. Here is a hereto unreleased photo of Clinton at a night club in D.C.
It all fits!! This is why Bowlen inexplicably fired Shanahan!! He knew about the curse and hoped that by firing Shanahan and hiring some arrogant 33 year-old doomed to failure that he could break the spell. But Clinton is more powerful than that. As if a man who wears fluffy fur coats to football games could undo the powerful spell of a Death Eater. I believe the real power of the jinx lies with Bailey. Our poor stable will be cursed until we get rid of Champ who was the reason for Clinton's dismissal. I love the guy, but we sold our soul for him and the Death Eaters have made us pay. I'll be glad to get our stable back when his contract expires at the end of this season.
Last night I finished the dishes and settled down to watch the Spanish Prisoner while the Boss went shopping for school supplies. She proclaimed her mission to be top-priority. Absolutely Critical. I chided her that she'd be back by 10PM. Boy was I wrong.
First off, I'm watching a movie drier than the Sahara desert with no score (which was good at first, but them I got frustrated that no one was telling me what to feel, so I got upset) and is full of things that are not what they seem. At about 10:15, the Boss calls and tells me she's been watching the Bachelorette for like 3 hours, no shopping done. ???? I'm ready to go look in the mirror and see if I'm the same person and check that the kids are still in bed. Even if it was school supplies, I've never known her to shut down shopping alone, away from my whining and the kids. And for the Bachelorette... Absolute Scandal.
Not really. I'm exaggerating. I'm actually happy she went and did something for her, even if it FREAKED ME OUT. But I blame it on the movie. Not her. (No... never). The question is, will I see it coming the next time or get duped like the Boy Scout in the movie? And what's with Steve Martin playing a rich jerk who isn't funny? Another crime against nature. However, I did enjoy the film, except the ending seemed to wrap up too quickly.
TOY STORY 3
99% on the RT meter usually means a good film and TS3 was no exception. I'll admit the Toy Story movies don't hit the same nerves for me as Ratatouille, Up or even Wall-e'd. (Yes, I just said computer generated kids movies make me emotional). But I cry over everything. - Right Boss? Except this movie. It was good, but no Pixar tears. I guess my NES was more dear to me than GI Joe's or naked barbies. Speaking of which, Ken and Barbie steal this installment. However, I still like TS2 a bit more, simply for the Zurg stuff. My inner fan-boy rejoiced. If you are one the 10 people left in America that haven't seen this yet, I applaud you for being different. I hope you feel better about yourself and can abstain until red box or maybe forever. Become a TS3 Nun. You may not be what you seem.
P.S. - Dear Boss, Please remmeber there are flowers on that AMAZING wood table that you found on a crazy good sale in the kitchen.
Thanks to Glee, everyone is now into mash-ups, which I've come to enjoy. Thanks to some more wonderful editing; two of my favorite movies from this summer have become one. Almost as good as peanut butter and chocolate.
I saw Inception last night and my brain is still buzzing over possibilities. For my taste, this was an excellent film. Well crafted story, beautifully shot and filled with action that serves the plot not derailing it. Nolan wrote this years ago and you can tell he's put tremendous effort into the production, writing and directing. Hands down one of my favorite directors. So yes, I give this two thumbs up, five stars... its outstanding. Go see it in all its glory on the big screen.
I really don't want to talk too much about the plot and spoil it for anyone that hasn't seen it yet. But it will require some thought which for most of you is a good thing. It has elements of the recent Batman films and the Matrix, but it clearly stands on its own. Its unlike any dream/subconscious film I've ever seen. I won't pretend to fully understand the movie and am looking forward to a second viewing where I can test some of my theories to see if they hold up. The only weakness of this film it that it moves so fast you don't have much time to connect to the characters, but I think that will be accomplished in later viewings.
Once again a big shout out to Hans Zimmer on a wonderful score. Still going in my mind this morning. He and Nolan are the Spielberg/Williams of the modern era. Hats off to these guys for making serious movie magic.
As for the LDS perspective, this movie had little profanity, zero sexual content and the action was fairly tame. For you scardie-cats out there, this movie is not going to freak you out. Even the boss was quite calm afterwards. So go ahead, eat your popcorn and feel no shame.
I stumbled across this excrpt from a book and loved it. Especially the part about creating my own mythology about my life. That will be a fun post down the road, but for now I've added my own comments:
"The Forbidden Book Of Getting What you Want; Making The World Your Banquet Starting with a Simmering Broth for Ambition"
There are people who live their lives as if they were a force of nature.
They seem to always get what they desire and be unaffected by the events around them. Around these people others make it a rule to follow them or get out of their way. These “forces of nature” can be violent and demanding or seductive and compelling, or both. They often personify an energy. This energy may be specific or undefined in nature.
An example is the fictional Darth Vader who personifies an energy of sheer will. (And unintentional comedy)
A living example of this type of persona is Playboy magazine founder, Hugh Hefner, who is the personification of the power of hedonistic fulfillment and Eros.
Napoleon Bonaparte, Salvador Dali , Gambino crime boss John Gotti and former president Bill Clinton are others to name a few.
Not all of these “forces of nature” seek fame. Many aspire only to live their lives as they wish. Have you ever met someone who lives life as if they are force of nature? (Say yes, I'm reading his blog)
When you've taken the opportunity to speak with them, what you'll learn is that they can tell you exactly what they are going to accomplish. They will tell you this with a calm and unshakable sense of certainty. They may even seem as if they have already accomplished it or as if they have seen the future and have come back to tell you what will happen.
Because they have thought so thoroughly about what they want and how they want to live as they go after it, unforeseen events are rare and of little consequence.
The worst thing an unforeseen event might do is delay the inevitable attainment of their goal.
When the unforeseen occurs they have a plan on how they will respond. That is the depth of their self-understanding. (I am never suprised by myself)
Anyone who is within the presence of these rare people will feel both a soothing calmness and an unstoppable force emanating from their character. (FEEL MY EMANATIONS)
Upon first evaluation, one might conclude that these living monoliths of achievement are motivated by endless ambition but that would be inaccurate. Rather, they are moved by an unshakable sense of destiny.
While these people appear human in every way, they seem to move through the world more like a force of nature in and of themselves. Life is an adventure and their goals and accomplishments are landmarks and milestones of their journey. They view success and failure with an unwavering detachment.
Their intent is so firm that all they know is their goal will be accomplished. Time is of no consequence to them because, like a god looking down from Mount Olympus, eventually all will transpire as they have laid it out and neither the winds, the waters nor the wills of man can stop them.
They make their achievements seem easy and cause us to ask, “Why shouldn't I be able to do what they do?”
This is the life YOU could live, all you must do is choose it.
Your Outward Appearance - This section is not about dressing for success because even an idiot can do that. This is about your presentation as a person and how you move and interact with those around you.
The first advice is simple: Move as if you have a purpose. Moving as if you have a purpose means moving as if you are not just pulled though space but also through time. You are being pulled in the direction of your goals. (Don't get in my way or my destiny will overpower you)
This is important for two reasons. The first is you do have a purpose and even though you may never discuss it outwardly it is through your purposeful actions and movements that others will take note and either assist you or move out of your way. (You should see me BBQ)
The second reason is more subtle and internal. When you move as if you have a purpose you are intentionally affecting your physiology. Any actor trained in "method acting" will tell you that if you do enough outward expressions of an emotional state you will begin to feel that emotional state take hold of you. (This is why I can cry on demand to manipulate others)
Moving with a purpose will strengthen every aspect of your purpose.
During the early part of the last century a young reporter was instructed to visit Mohandas Ghandi at a hospice for the dying in India and ask to observe Ghandi as he went about his daily routine. What he observed seemed unappearant at first but quickly became obvious. Ghandi moved as if he was being pulled by some greater force. That force was his sense of purpose.
Create a Mythology - One way to strengthen your sense of purpose is to create a mythology that describes your life and then live to fulfill it.
Many people have created their personal mythology from thin air and have often been revealed as frauds. To avoid this remember that almost every good hero of mythical greatness begins with a humble origin. This holds true in the stories from the biblical Moses to the fictional Luke Skywalker. Start your mythology where you are at and build on it. By asking yourself 'What would the very best me do?' you can direct your course with acts that seem as though you are pulled in the direction of your greater purpose. (I used to dye my hair blonde as a kid to look like Luke Skywalker... and look at me now)
Your Internal State Of Mind -There is a constant force that is created when we have a goal and make a plan to go after it. The force is that not everything will go our way, the difference between what we plan and what actually occurs. This is often referred to as "Friction". This Friction is a constant component of life; we plan one thing grandiose and some unforeseen event stalls our progress.
Friction is not an enemy but a natural element which, like the weather, we can sometimes predict, but seldom control. Fighting the friction of life is as futile as fighting a hurricane so instead let it become your teacher as you become it's most dutiful student. (I love friction, which is why I enjoy hitting and hurting people in violent sports like basketball)
What it teaches is the endless value of flexibility and being able to adapt to changing situations. There will always be friction therefore there will always be lessons to learn.
Friction cannot be pleaded with or manipulated. Friction is as cold and uncaring as the winter sea but it can be a teacher as wise as Aristotle. (Just like when I drive to the hoop - get out of my way or pay the price)
To become a Force of Nature you must abandon whatever doubt you have whether or not we each deserve to have what we deeply want. What is proposed is that you should get what-you-want if you know in precise detail what you want, and if you know in precise detail the steps to getting it, and if you are absolutely willing to do each step, and if you are flexible enough to embrace and adapt to the friction of life.
(Poppycock - Friction adapts to me and I more than deserve everything I want. Its time to go get that green burrito today. - Ambition is knowing your offer and delivering it. I'm ready to put my fist through a wall now.)
I'll admit it. I tuned in to ESPN last Thursday to watch "THE DECISION" and found it to be a grossly over-hyped event for a guy who hasn't won a single championship. But I still watched some of it and so did millions. Why?
Nike told us to with their mind control shoes. They've decided LeBron will help them sell so they've crammed him down our throats as "King James" the most important person on the planet whom "We are all witnesses." OF WHAT??? Marketing Hype? Its like People Magazine would have us believe that Lindsay Lohan / Paris Hilton are the center of the Universe because they help them sell magazines. LeBron - you are famous for being the most hyped player ever until you win championships.
Which brings me to the problem of the "Miami-Thrice" deal South Beach. Even if these guys win 6 in a row, it will not carry the same honor as winning with your own team and beating the other great players in the game. Damned if you do, damned if you don't... But many of the all time greats had other super-stars on their teams or were on stacked franchises (Boston, LA, Chicago)so why not LeBron? But this one was done by the players, not management.
This deal is a look at the future of the NBA, which is a player's league. So why not have them act as their own GMs? It will be like a high-school pick-up game where all of the good players want to be on the same team and win by 70 (yes I'm still bitter about it). Winning a championship in the future may be determined by how well certain players "Bro-down" with others, so they get invited to be part of the ultra teams that win championships. So what if they make $10 million less over 5 years? That's soon to be the cost of winning a championship.
Today I must confess to an old habit that has grown worse... and I'm proud of it. Watering down my beverages. But its not just fruit punch or OJ, I've recently started doing it with soda. Why??? Not because I'm aspiring to be cheap (I'll get to that in a moment), but I can't handle all the sugar. I enjoy the taste and happy-fizz of soda, but it has to be on my terms. Ever since I decided to abstain form Aspartame, I've gone back to regular soda, but its too sweet for me. So I'll usually do 70% water and 30% soda concoction from the fountain. Time to get out your pitchforks and kill the watered-down soda freak!
The watered down idea also leads me to another thought about being cheap. What does it really mean to be cheap? I think it depends on how much money one makes. If you make enough to be in a high tax bracket and are still tight with your money; you are known as a cheap, miserly, penny-pinching scrooge. Those who make less are simply thrifty, frugal, budget minded or students. At least this is one name distinction that does not favor the rich - like crazy vs. eccentric. So I'll enjoy my brand as watered down and aspiring to be eccentric. Sounds like a good way to introduce myself on an airplane if I want peace and quiet.
Since I'm obsessed with divining the future by my golden key medallion, I must put out my predictions on the ghastly whoring taking place with collegiate conferences. Here is a look at the future.
Does any one else find it pathetic that the only way CU can get national attention for athletics is to jump conferences? I'm not sure their football program will ever get back to its former glory. All of the meat eaters have been driven out of town and I seriously doubt a football program can survive under the iron fist of the "People's Republic of Boulder" eventually demanding women play quarterback and six weeks paid vacation for Ralphie. This program is dead forever, soon to become the doormat of the PAC-1,000
The PAC ??? will become an Ultra MEGA CONFERENCE with Texas, A&M, OU, OSU and little Baylor and of course, the original whore school - CU. That puts it up to 16.
The Mountain West will make a desperate move to pick up the dregs of the Big 12 to make their own BCS conference. But I doubt it will happen. KU, KSU and Missouri will go to the Big 10 (actually 11) but now 12 with Nebraska making it the Big 15 - but wait! Good ol Notre Dame will come over to form another ULTRA MEGA 16 SCHOOL CONFERENCE.... GLORIOUS!!
So what will happen to the little MWC? Nothing. At best, they may pick up Texas Tech and BSU. Since this is all about adding media markets and $$$$$$$$$ Lubbock and Boise don't add much luster to an already snubbed conference. Quite frankly, most of the nation is not worried about how to capture the Utah TV market. Yes, BYU travels well, but its just too annoying or "evil" to include a bunch of religious wackos with real academic institutions (remember its all about 'academic' uh political um - bigoted standards). The MWC, but most notably both BYU and UofU will be left in tears when this is all over. It will get even more difficult to recruit after the mega conferences are formed since players will want to know a perfect season will actually mean something at the end of the year. Sad, but true. I'm not even looking through a glass darkly. Its clear as crystal and self-evident like the Declaration of Independence. Do ribs taste good? Yes, friends, this prediction is going to happen. I can taste it.
Now that the pitiful facade of 'academic standards' has been blown away from conference membership can all of the elitist academics out there get off of trying to kill football and basketball? You are like Pimps. Embrace the whores who bring you money so you can research ending all of the problems caused by Republicans and corporations. The masks are off. Our universal greed is on display. Can you hear that one piercing piano note being played over and over? We're all obsessed with TV markets and money. All I'm asking is a little gratitude for the revenue producing power of sports.
Finally, no legitimate playoff will result from these newly formed mega conferences. Money will always get in the way, especially now. Not even Barry can fix this. My only regret is the pure children... collegiate athletes will be denied competition's pure flame into perpetuity.
Thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation, my kids elementary school won free tickets to Elitch Gardens yesterday. We were the highest fundraising elementary school in the state during the year. The local news was there to report, but they spent most of their time talking about how those rich, spoiled brats at Cherry Creek HS raised over $19,000 for 3 kids. As if kids who get $20 per day for lunch and have a trust fund would have a hard time putting up that money. I bet half of it was "daddy's" company making charitable contributions to avoid taxes. But this is a day where money couldn't spoil my mood, it was all free and at least the children won in the end. Here are some random items from the day.
First ride on the swings, 5 seven year old boys start singing "ga ga oh la la!!" at the top of their lungs. The kids have truly fallen for Ga Ga. At least they weren't dressed in Kermit the frog suites.
Waited 30 mins to shoot Boocifer, but just as we're about to get on the ride, we get word some kids freaked out and jumped off the ride. As a result, they have to shut everything down for a while. Good thing it was free or I would have been ticked.
All water rides in the amusement side of the park were shut down. I even wore my suit in anticipation. Once again, good thing it was free.
I'm getting old. That happy tingling sensation in my stomach on the Sea Dragon was actually uncomfortable this time.
First time I've ever been to an amusement park and been on a roller coaster. I now turn in my adrenaline badge to the Man Council and am too ashamed to ever drink Mountain Dew again for fear of being a poseur.
After some PBH in the car, we headed to the water park, where I realized all of those reality tattoo shows are really having an impact on young women.
After waiting 20 mins to do the half-pipe I was thwarted by kid #2 at the last moment and had to make the walk of shame down the tower. Once again, I took a deep breath and repeated to myself... its all free... chillax.
Next I had to move the kids away from a couple in the wave pool giving each other a tongue bath. The further you go into the deep end, the more you encounter the dregs of society. (What does that say about me?) My biggest fear was not the kids drowning, but taking a gulp of water. - Yes. I'm a total snob.
Despite these moments, I had a good time knowing it cost me nothing. Not worrying about money really allowed me to enjoy the kids. So what's the point of all this? I've realized I'm never going to blow money on family activities again. I'll achieve maximum happiness if all our outings are free. Thank you Occam's Razor! Now that I've realized this truth, I feel free and can enjoy my life to the fullest. I'll see you at the local park sometime after dumpster diving for bagels.
Today, I discovered another sport I stink at - Mountain Biking. Yes, I have a mountain bike and ride it around suburbia with a feisty Lizard on my heels, but this was the real deal.
This was a mix and mingle activity put on by some mortgage brokers and it seemed like a much more interesting way to network than golf or attend a trade show. I was lured in like a moth to the flame. Upon my arrival I was stunned to find that I looked out of place for not wearing spandex. My golf shirt and cargo shorts implied: "TOOL" Several guys asked me if I had ever done this before and I happily told them "no" to which they just laughed and said "good luck."
I was informed that we were taking on a trail in the Lair O' the Bear park that was classified as intermediate difficulty. Like a tool, I got used. First of all, I didn't think we'd be doing much uphill riding. No, we went straight up a typical hiking trail. I enjoy hiking, but never imagined going up on a bike. Better yet, I didn't realize my rental bike had a higher gear setting and after I could no longer breathe and kept loosing my balance, I got off and walked. A 70 year old dude stayed back with me only added to the humiliation as the rest of the pack whizzed by. It was a trail of tears marked by shame.
Once at the top of the hill, I was ready to turn back; but the thrill of downhill was too much for me and I took off. I love the smell of the woods, but its even better at 20 mph. Of course I realized after a few minutes, I'd have to come back up the hill and began to cringe. The rest of the trail was a blast, no more massive inclines, this is the way it should be. I even figured out I had another gear. I was finally getting the hang of it. Then the left pedal on my rental came off.
Fortunately the 70 year old guy had a wrench of sorts and I was able to re-attach the much needed pedal, but it still felt weak. I elected to walk it up hill so I could be sure to have it going downhill and make up time to actually network at the trail head.
I did have the obligatory wipe out on the way back, lost most of the skin on my palms, but had a great time. The 70 year old guy literally took five dives while I was following him. He was one tough but crazy son of a gun. Bloodied like a hockey player - or Steve Nash. I hope he gets around the house alright. Here's a good example.
Needless to say, ski resorts have it right. Let machines take you to the top and then ride down. Now its time to get some rest and regrow some skin.
One of my favorite TV shows has just ended and it didn't turn out the way I predicted. Here is my prediction from April 2008.
Jack and Kate with the help of Ben and Sayid will break into Faraday's Oxford lab and take 3 super-humans who can see dead people, travel through time and dodge bullets back to the island for VENGEANCE. There they will use all of the ancient Dharma fortresses to defeat the monster and the evil corporate Mr. Widmore. John Locke will die in the process while using all his powers granted by the Island. Ben will be killed by his own greed and fall into a pit of Lava like Gollum.
In the aftermath, scientists will go to the island and discover the cure for cancer, the ability to render all atomic bombs useless, and how to time travel back to previous days in a person's life. But the most stunning result will be the key to picking lottery numbers. Once this happens, people will win the lotto so much that it will be closed. As the real source of public school funding, the educational system will collapse, the rising generation will become cannibals; and consequently, not solve global warming and the earth will be flooded by icebergs. Then Kevin Costner's vision of Water World will become a reality. I don't remember how that movie ended (because I shut it off) so you'll have to tell me how it ends.
OK. The only things I was close on were Captain Obvious items - Jack defeating the monster, Locke dying and water world...
I'll start by saying I'm glad the show is over. I felt it running out of gas at the end of Season 3; but time travel kept it interesting for 2 more years and the longest ending ever (all of the alternate realities in 6) kept it very enjoyable.
My biggest disappointment? The Island. It was such a source of mystery and imagination and only turned out to be a plot device. They didn't really want to explain why or what it was, the emphasis was on the people. In the Super Bowl-esque 2 hour pre-game show, the producers said the title LOST referred more to the characters than the Island. From that perspective, the arc of the show makes sense and I'm glad I caught that or I might have been sorely disappointed.
Ultimately, this is a story about how people find redemption. I used to think the point of the show was to demonstrate that everyone has a skeleton in the closet and we all deserve to go to hell on an island infested with a smoke monster. But in classic Judeo-Christian fashion, the characters ultimately find a form of grace or salvation. The way in which they pull each other to the "next place" was beautiful and set me close to tears a few times.
What did I love most about the show? It was like a six year long movie with a great score - the music really made the show. It never felt like a TV show to me. My parents had the Thorn Birds, I have LOST. I feel sad for those who haven't seen it yet, because now there are too many spoilers out there. The joy of this show for me was discovery and the journey. Which brings me to an idea about origin stories, but that will have to wait for another day.
I've added a theme from the show that feels appropriate for an ending to my playlist if you care to hear the music once again.
Fantasy vs. Baseball - Think about any guy you know where his favorite sport is baseball (or a very close second). I will guarantee 90% of the time this guy will not enjoy fantasy or sci-fi movies. They will tolerate rom-coms (AKA roofies), but use them as a commodity. I know of only one genuine exception to my rule. But the real question is why????
I can only guess that dudes who can endure hours of boring baseball and mundane color anecdotes do not enjoy material that stretches beyond normal. Therefore, wizards are fake and stupid. Sci-fi is for nerds imagining a future where they are cool or powerful. To their credit, I've known a few of these guys who have attempted to like fantasy or sci-fi, but ultimately can't deny their true nature. One easy way to spot these guys? They will always prefer the Bourne trilogy to a popular fantasy/sci-fi trilogy or series.
Of course, this theory is still in progress I welcome any real or fake comments.
Nordy's BBQ - Since returning to the Mile High City, I have lamented the fact we have no good BBQ joints. Until now... I have found a place where the brisket falls apart on your fork... where smokey tender ribs are so good you'll drop to your knees and thank heaven PETA and their hordes of naked nymphomaniacs haven't outlawed eating meat. Nordy's brought me out a Louisiana Special that was enough food to feed me and two small children (stuffed - seriously). All major sauce styles were present: Texas, Kansas City, Jalapeno and Memphis. I'm a KC guy and I could eat a bowl of it with some Texas Toast. All of this may sound too good to be true for a man in the Metro area. Well, it is. The big downer about Nordy's is that its up in Windsor and the waitress told me it would be 4 years before we get a location in the Denver area. Is anticipation better than the real thing? My trips up there will help solve that axiom for me.
Departures - Winner of the Oscar for the Best foreign film in 2009, this a movie I thoroughly enjoyed. A failed Cellist moves back to his hometown to start a new life and finds a career in assisting deceased persons with encoffinment - a ceremony performed before mourners. This movie resonated with me as the son of a Cellist and someone who lost his father early in life. I laughed hard and cried during this film. It made me feel grateful to be alive and not take those I love for granted. If foreign movies are not your thing, I hope you'll make an exception for this one. It is not a typical popcorn movie and the plot does not zing along at a high clip. Rather it gives you time to digest the ideas and feel emotion. Definitely a new favorite I'll be bugging people to watch for years to come.
While basking in the glow of a corporate "advance" in Maui I discovered my inner power animal and how to deal with owls, lions and a flock of seagulls. I also read a few books.
EMPIRE - The back cover says this is a disturbing look at a possible future where a civil war breaks out between the Ultra-left and Uber-right. This effort from Orson Scott card did not resonate with me like his Ender series - AKA the greatest tribute ever written to passive aggressiveness.
The characters were not believable, the plot was ludicrous. Upset with George Bush, the Progressive Restoration Movement - secretly led and financed by a billionaire left-wing extremist known as "Aloe Vera" builds an under-lake army of AT-STs and hover bikes. They invade NYC after murdering the President, VP and Secretary of State in a terrorist attack blamed on Al-queda leaving a Mormon to pick up the pieces as president. Its a book where the author is trying to show off his Russian nesting dolls. There's a secret within a secret within a secret. But when you get down to it. There just a tiny wooden doll that leaves you disappointed.
THE LAST KINGDOM - If any of you men reading this ever think you are loosing your masculinity or drive to eat an enormous drumstick while slamming you fist on the table screaming "BRING ME MY DRINK WOMAN!!" then read this book. Or just read it for the sheer joy of testosterone that will flood your body as you read about the glamour of 9th century warrior life. I promise at least 30 new chest hairs at completion.
This is a historical work of fiction starring Uthred, a young English noble who has his homeland invaded by the Danes (Vikings) in the 9th century. Raised by the Danes after taking him captive, he is torn between the warrior lifestyle he loves with the Danes and his homeland. All of England begins to fall to the invaders in bloody fashion. Only Alfred the Great stands between the Danish conquest and history hangs in the balance. Uthred plays his role as history unfolds. Bernard Cornwell is simply a fantastic testosterone author. This book is like Braveheart on steroids. I'll severely recommend this to SDMAMaddog and anyone else who thinks they can handle the raw power in this book.
With a book this awesome about medieval fighting why are we re-making Robin Hood for the 40th time? Sad. This is a trilogy and I'm already starting on the next book, The Pale Horseman.
When I first heard about the Broncos drafting Tim Tebow with the 25th pick the first round of the draft, I started peeling the skin off my face. I can't recall such a controversial pick in Broncos history. McDaniel's name is mud in this town. I bet he wears Kevlar in public under his hoodie fearing the Orange Crush insurgent network has a hit out on him.
I said it before, we caught everyone looking the other way with that 6-0 start. We are a four win team now after trading some our best players. So in the context of this draft pick - it can't get much worse and it probably won't get better under the current regime. So why not gamble on a guy who is a proven winner with a speech engraved on a building?
Perhaps McDaniels is just trying to ensure he gets a third season so he has time to develop T-bone. For those of you not up to speed, here is the scouting report from CBS Sports on T-bone.
Accuracy: A bit inconsistent on intermediate throws that require zip. Throws some beautiful passes in tight windows, but also has a tendency for "wobbly" throws, making his passes a tougher catch than pure spirals. Typically leads his receivers, but still too often forces them to alter their routes.
Arm Strength: Prototypical arm strength. Can make every NFL throw. Can zip short and intermediate passes and flashes touch and trajectory on deeper throws. Only occasionally asked to throw true deep balls in this offense, but has the arm strength to do so.
Setup/Release: Some real concerns in this area. Takes snaps in the shotgun, meaning he'll need significant refinement in his drop-back at the next level. Quick, active feet necessary to eventually excel in this area. Drops the ball to his hip before winding up to release the pass. Struggled with pass rushers knocking the ball out of his hands, as well as tipping off defensive backs who can read where he's going with the long wind-up.
Reading Defenses: Only asked to make a few reads in this offense before having the green light to run. Seems to be a cerebral player who understands defenses and will scan the field to locate the open receiver.
On the Move: At his best as a runner and has rare vision with the ball in his hands from the quarterback position. Can anticipate holes in the defense and shows the burst to get past the initial wave of defenders to gain yards in chunks.
Intangibles: Perfectly suited to Urban Meyer's system, but there are some questions as to how Tebow's skills translate to the NFL. Good size and strength for the position. Rare toughness. Natural and charismatic leader.
What really won me over is the following radio interview. Its worth a few minutes to listen as this guy takes on the Spanish Inquisition from Big Al and D-Mac:
Like his religious views or not, this guy is a stud. He could have pulled a Jay Cutler, gone into hiding claiming missed text messages; but this dude flew out here the day after the draft and took on his critics with conviction. I can't help but want to see him succeed. Is he the answer? I don't know. There's a good chance he's not. But I'm rooting for the guy. He has the class and talent to be the face of a franchise and I'll be thrilled to have it on mine. If it doesn't work out? Then we are sure to get rid of "McMastermind."
Over the last year my fellow brethren and I have stayed home while our wives enjoyed "girls night out." Since SIWK men usually get to interact with grown ups during the day, act like captains of industry, and find deep meaning in our structured capitalist/slave driven lives; we don't seem to be deserving of time out of the home with no strings attached. To make things worse, guy's night out can imply, booze, women, gambling and fighting (all taboo), so the mere activity is suspicious causing it to take a back seat to girl's night out on morals alone. Because let's face it, a bunch of 30 something desperate housewives would never get into trouble.
To be perfectly honest, I love the fact my wife gets out with her friends on a consistent basis. When momma is happy, I'm happy. Heck, I practically demand she goes out. But sometimes a SIWK's gotta fight for equal rights. On April 3rd 2010, at Outback Steakhouse, surrounded by man-food, plans were hatched to rally the troops to guy's night out.
The first outing was at Brunswick for some bowling. First thing I noticed? The music was loud. Yep. You know you're getting old when you find the music at the bowling alley to be too loud. Our crazy beverages? Lemonade and tonic water with lime (quite tasty). No booze, no women , no gambling on the scores and no fighting (despite 1 tush swat). But there were lots of laughs and a few strikes along the way. Hopefully the tradition will continue.
Date Night - Just caught this flick with the Boss on our own date night. It was even better than I expected. I'm a big fan of the Office and 30 Rock so a movie with Steve Carell and Tina Fey was right up my alley. Both were hilarious. Mark Whalberg was hysterical as the shirtless wonder. The married humor was sharp and dead on in so many cases. An instant classic.
The Marriage Ref - Seinfeld put together a show where couples have their marital problems solved by a panel of guest celebrities and a cheese ball? Seriously? Alec Baldwin, the marriage counselor? This must be a sign the apocalypse is near. Why is there a show asking people with the collective worst relationship track record on the plant for marital advice? I did watch an entire episode, so I'm not just judging off of previews; and the host nearly made me gag on his aspartame infused cheese. I guess things really are that bad at NBC - they'd better not mess with The Office or 30 Rock or I'm done.
As winter gives way to spring, I recently determined it was time to take the Lizard on a final ski trip for the season. Since I've already spent way too much on this elitist sport this year, I wanted to take the affordable route. A colleague recommended Ski Cooper as an affordable family resort and it fit the bill perfectly.
I'm almost reluctant to tell the 3 people who read this blog about it as word may spread, but I flatter myself. Ultimately, I maintain this blog for posterity, amusement and the KGB, so I will share a few details of the trip.
Ski Cooper is located about 10 mins north of Leadville off Highway 24. Since I was traveling for work already, we stayed at the Super 8 in Leadville the night before. Very basic hotel, can't control the temperature in your room, thin walls, ghastly empty carbs for breakfast, but clean and comfortable. It is wonderful to have a 10 minute drive before hitting the slopes.
Lift tickets were $45 for adults and $23 for kids. Rentals were $15 for adults and $13 for kids. I threw in a helmet for the Lizard as my boss gave multiple death threats if I did not procure one for her. All told, the bill for lift tickets and rentals for one day came out to $91 bucks. I paid $95 for just a lift ticket for myself earlier at Steamboat. The price got my day off to a great start.
Better than the price, the runs were perfect for kids. As a blue skier who usually avoids blacks, this place would get boring on my own, but the modest slopes were just challenging enough for younger skiers. I'd say in general, the greens were very easy and the blues like an advanced green at a larger resort. Lines were non-existent, runs were not crowded and the light coating of fresh powder was wonderful. In the morning, the falling snow was beautiful against the sun. It was like being inside an enormous lighted snow globe.
Sounds like a perfect day? There was some drama. It was very windy and COLD. The Lizard packed the wrong gloves and her poor hands were freezing after the second run. She was ready to throw in the towel and go home. While fidgeting with one of the gloves on the lift, it fell along with the sky. I wound up taking her to the ski patrol lodge at the top of the mountain while I searched for the lost glove to no avail. I then went back up the mountain and told her I would go get some different gloves at the lodge. So off I went again, and after blowing more money on gloves, goggles, a face/neck gator and hand warmers, we got back on the slopes. The Lizard was a hit with the ski patrol and they were sad to see her go after consuming all their hot chocolate and cookies. A now toasty Lizard proceeded to carve up the mountain even daring some jumps and bravely dusting off a few wipe-outs.
Couldn't be happier with my day on the slopes and some quality time with the Lizard. The season ends this year on April 4, so it will have to wait until next year for another trip. http://www.skicooper.com/
I've accumulated a bunch of items to air out as we celebrate the rites of spring (not Stravinsky style http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rite_of_Spring). So, no riots please. I'm not that shocking.
Things I'm done with, PART 2
March Madness - Kansas, you suck. BYU, "it must have been love, but its over now." My brackets lie bloody on the hardwood. But only because I didn't use my Nostra-fletch-a-damus skills on them. My real prediction will follow.
Female Angst Flicks/TV - Stuff like the Nanny diaries, Step mom, the Duchess, Lifetime TV in general, the Bachelor, HGTV...
Kids failing to do homework or making it impossible to get to school on time. Enough said.
Anything too doughy. (I know, that means I should be done with myself. Har har).
"He saw that the works that his own hands had wrought under the sun was all vanity and vexation of spirit - and not even for any profit!"http://scatteredchristians.org/UnderSunVexation.htmlI will not elaborate on this unless severely prompted to.
Recent Movies
A. Couples Retreat - This pushed the PG-13 limit but was hilarious. The Yoga scene nearly put me in tears.
B. Tron - I went back and watched the old one and actually enjoyed it. There is something almost timeless in the near-black and white footage.
C. 2012 - Ridiculous. - Yes, that sums up the movie.
D. Bambi - Yes, I'd never seen it and I was shocked to find out Bambi was a boy.
Predictions
I. Syracuse will win the tournament.
II. Smokie will loose to Jacob, Jack will take over and the alternate future will segue into another series based on Lost characters, ala Private Practice (that name still sounds wrong).
III. Congress will be forced to start using the health care system they put in place (after the people's victory over martial law with the use of bear spray).
IV. Clash of the Titans is going to be a bad movie, but make a ton of money. Same thing on Iron Man 2. (I really hope I'm wrong).
V. The Cavs will win the NBA title this year. My Nugz will get bounced in the 2nd round of the playoffs. (once again, I really hope I'm wrong.)
VI. Brady Quinn will become a great quarterback in Denver - Why? Anything Josh wants to do... he'll do. And making BQ a top notch QB is just a fact of reality we have yet to discover. After all, Josh seems to do whatever he wants, except win in December. But that was Brandon Marshall's fault... and Tony Scheffler. Gotta get rid of the bad locker room guys. So yes, McMastermind is poised for a stellar year!! - OK that was all crap. I'm predicting a 4-12 season. I've lost all hope. Get me some Al Davis sweat suits and perpetual blackouts. Perhaps the dawn of spring (and a stellar draft) can renew my hope.
Restaurant
California Cafe, Park Meadows Mall - With a menu that changes seasonally and a classy, quiet atmosphere, this is one of my favorite places to take the boss for dinner. I've never been disappointed with anything I've tried. Here is a brief summary of my last outing:
Appetizer - Beef Carapaccio. Lean, tender. Not the best ever. It was a good start.
Entree - Porchini and Pork Belly Pizza. Probably one of the 3 best pizzas I've ever been blessed to eat. It was stunning, don't let the name freak you out - ITS BACON!!!
Desert - Butternut Squash ice cream on a warm gingerbread cake with toffee chips. - I'd actually pass up chocolate for this. It was a revelation.
This morning Jeff texted me that he was suffering from an acute case of Captain Crunch mouth after 3 delicious bowls. Jeff – I feel your pain. Sadly, I’m all too familiar with this affliction. My days at the MTC were riddled with it. If only Clark Griswold could come up with a nutritive mouth varnish that could “seal and coat” the mouth and prevent the Captain Crunch from scarring it.
While I love Captain Crunch, I’ve nearly given it up for this reason. I don’t want to wait for the “Soggies” to make it safe to eat. But this got me to thinking, what is the greatest the American classic cold cereal? Before I give my top five, I think some history on cold cereal is in order (thanks Wikipedia, o fountain of easy indisputable facts):
“Breakfast cereals have their beginnings in the vegetarian movement in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, which influenced members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States.[4] The main Western breakfast at that time was a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, and beef. The first packaged breakfast cereal, Granula (named after granules) was invented in the United States in 1863 by James Caleb Jackson, operator of the Jackson Sanitorium in Dansville, New York and a staunch vegetarian.
Breakfast cereals were considerably more convenient, and, combined with clever marketing, they finally managed to catch on. In 1877, John Harvey Kellogg, operator of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, invented a biscuit made of ground-up wheat, oat, and cornmeal for his patients suffering from bowel problems. The product was initially also named "Granula", but changed to "Granola" after a lawsuit. His most famous contribution, however, was an accident. After leaving a batch of boiled wheat soaking overnight and rolling it out, Kellogg had created wheat flakes. His brother Will Keith Kellogg later invented corn flakes from a similar method, bought out his brother's share in their business, and went on to found the Kellogg Company in 1906. With his shrewd marketing and advertising, Kellogg's sold their one millionth case after three years.
The 20th century
In the 1930s, the first puffed cereal, Kix, went on the market. Beginning after World War II, the big breakfast cereal companies – now including General Mills, who entered the market in 1924 with Wheaties – increasingly started to target children. The flour was refined to remove fiber, which at the time was considered to make digestion and absorption of nutrients difficult, and sugar was added to improve the flavor for children. The new breakfast cereals began to look starkly different from their ancestors. As one example, Kellogg's Sugar Smacks, created in 1953, had 56% sugar by weight.[6] Different mascots were introduced, first with the Rice Krispies elves[7] and later pop icons like Tony the Tiger and the Trix Rabbit.
Because of Kellogg and Post, the city of Battle Creek, Michigan is nicknamed the "cereal city". [8]”
And without further ado, Here are my top 5.
5. HBO – AKA, Honey Bunches of Oats
Tasty, sweet, clusters. Good times, fun nickname.
4. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Sugary goodness to replace toast with a timeless topping
3. Cocoa Crispies or Fruity Pebbles
I used to chant “oh-ho blessed cereal” as I poured milk on this cereal
2. Reese’s Puffs
What other cereal is equally good for desert? A birthday morning special
1. HNC – AKA Honey Nut Cheerios.
To waste this cereal is a sin in my house. Finish the bowl or don’t start at all. It is relatively healthy, with that sweet sugar cereal taste. Best of both worlds.
Honorable mentions:
Life Cracklin Oat Bran Captain Crunch, with Crunch Berries Super Golden Crisp Marshmallow Mateys Raisin Bran G-NUTS, AKA Grape Nuts
Sometimes the truth hurts. Or the wicked taketh the truth to be hard for it cutteth them to the very center. And there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Can anyone ponder this list without experiencing a profound sense of inadequacy and shame?
Fortunately, it will be followed with 13 Keys to Sucess. So I'm not just being negative nancy here today.
From Napoleon Hill’s How To Overcome Failure And Achieve Success: 30 Ways to fail.
"Life’s greatest tragedy consists of men and women who earnestly try, and fail! The tragedy lies in the overwhelmingly large majority of people who fail, as compared to the few who succeed.
I have had the privilege of analyzing several thousand men and women, 98% of whom were classed as “failures.” There is something radically wrong with a civilization, and a system of education, which permit 98% of the people to go through life as failures. But I did not write this book for the purpose of moralizing on the rights and wrongs of the world; that would require a book a hundred times the size of this one.
My analysis work proved that there are thirty major reasons for failure, and thirteen major principles through which people accumulate fortunes. In this book, a description of the thirty major causes of failure will be given. As you go over the list, check yourself by it, point by point, for the purpose of discovering how many of these causes-of-failure stand between you and success. (This can and does apply to trading - trading for a living is a business.)
UNFAVORABLE HEREDITARY BACKGROUND. There is but little, if anything, which can be done for people who are born with a deficiency in brain power. This philosophy offers but one method of bridging this weakness—through the aid of the Master Mind. Observe with profit, however, that this is the ONLY one of the thirty causes of failure which may not be easily corrected by any individual.
LACK OF A WELL-DEFINED PURPOSE IN LIFE. There is no hope of success for the person who does not have a central purpose, or definite goal at which to aim. Ninety-eight out of every hundred of those whom I have analyzed, had no such aim. Perhaps this was the…see #3
LACK OF AMBITION TO AIM ABOVE MEDIOCRITY. We offer no hope for the person who is so indifferent as not to want to get ahead in life, and who is not willing to pay the price.
INSUFFICIENT EDUCATION. This is a handicap which may be overcome with comparative ease. Experience has proven that the best-educated people are often those who are known as “self-made,” or self-educated. It takes more than a college degree to make one a person of education. Any person who is educated is one who has learned to get whatever he wants in life without violating the rights of others. Education consists, not so much of knowledge, but of knowledge effectively and persistently APPLIED.
LACK OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. Discipline comes through self-control. This means that one must control all negative qualities. Before you can control conditions, you must first control yourself. Self-mastery is the hardest job you will ever tackle. If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self. You may see at one and the same time both your best friend and your greatest enemy, by stepping in front of a mirror.
ILL HEALTH. No person may enjoy outstanding success without good health. Many of the causes of ill health are subject to mastery and control. These, in the main are: (a) Overeating of foods not conducive to health; (b) Wrong habits of thought; giving expression to negatives. (c) Wrong use of, and over indulgence in sex. (d) Lack of proper physical exercise; (e) An inadequate supply of fresh air, due to improper breathing.
UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES DURING CHILDHOOD. “As the twig is bent, so shall the tree grow.” Most people who have criminal tendencies acquire them as the result of bad environment, and improper associates during childhood.
PROCRASTINATION. This is one of the most common causes of failure. “Old Man Procrastination” stands within the shadow of every human being, waiting his opportunity to spoil one’s chances of success. Most of us go through life as failures, because we are waiting for the “time to be right” to start doing something worthwhile. Do not wait. The time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.
LACK OF PERSISTENCE. Most of us are good “starters” but poor “finishers” of everything we begin. Moreover, people are prone to give up at the first signs of defeat. There is no substitute for PERSISTENCE. The person who makes PERSISTENCE his watch-word, discovers that “Old Man Failure” finally becomes tired, and makes his departure. Failure cannot cope with PERSISTENCE.
NEGATIVE PERSONALITY. There is no hope of success for the person who repels people through a negative personality. Success comes through the application of POWER, and power is attained through the cooperative efforts of other people. A negative personality will not induce cooperation.
LACK OF CONTROLLED SEXUAL URGE. Sex energy is the most powerful of all the stimuli which move people into ACTION. Because it is the most powerful of the emotions, it must be controlled, through transmutation, and converted into other channels.
UNCONTROLLED DESIRE FOR “SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.” The gambling instinct drives millions of people to failure. Evidence of this may be found in a study of the Wall Street crash of ‘29, during which millions of people tried to make money by gambling on stock margins.
LACK OF A WELL DEFINED POWER OF DECISION. Men who succeed reach decisions promptly, and change them, if at all, very slowly. Men who fail, reach decisions, if at all, very slowly, and change them frequently, and quickly. Indecision and procrastination are twin brothers. Where one is found, the other may usually be found also. Kill off this pair before they completely “hog-tie” you to the treadmill of FAILURE.ONE OR MORE OF THE 6 BASIC FEARS. Poverty, Criticism, Ill health, Jealousy, Old age, Death.
WRONG SELECTION OF A MATE IN MARRIAGE. This a most common cause of failure. The relationship of marriage brings people intimately into contact. Unless this relationship is harmonious, failure is likely to follow. Moreover, it will be a form of failure that is marked by misery and unhappiness, destroying all signs of AMBITION.
OVER-CAUTION. The person who takes no chances, generally has to take whatever is left when others are through choosing. Over-caution is as bad as under-caution. Both are extremes to be guarded against. Life itself is filled with the element of chance.
WRONG SELECTION OF ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS. This is one of the most common causes of failure in business. In marketing personal services, one should use great care to select an employer who will be an inspiration, and who is, himself, intelligent and successful. We emulate those with whom we associate most closely. Pick an employer who is worth emulating.
SUPERSTITION AND PREJUDICE. Superstition is a form of fear. It is also a sign of ignorance. Men who succeed keep open minds and are afraid of nothing.
WRONG SELECTION OF A VOCATION. No man can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like. The most essential step in the marketing of personal services is that of selecting an occupation into which you can throw yourself wholeheartedly.
LACK OF CONCENTRATION OF EFFORT. The “jack-of-all-trades” seldom is good at any. Concentrate all of your efforts on one DEFINITE CHIEF AIM.
THE HABIT OF INDISCRIMINATE SPENDING. The spend-thrift cannot succeed, mainly because he stands eternally in FEAR OF POVERTY. Form the habit of systematic saving by putting aside a definite percentage of your income. Money in the bank gives one a very safe foundation of COURAGE when bargaining for the sale of personal services. Without money, one must take what one is offered, and be glad to get it.
LACK OF ENTHUSIASM. Without enthusiasm one cannot be convincing. Moreover, enthusiasm is contagious, and the person who has it, under control, is generally welcome in any group of people.
INTOLERANCE. The person with a “closed” mind on any subject seldom gets ahead. Intolerance means that one has stopped acquiring knowledge. The most damaging forms of intolerance are those connected with religious, racial, and political differences of opinion. INTEMPERANCE. The most damaging forms of intemperance are connected with eating, strong drink, and sexual activities. Overindulgence in any of these is fatal to success.
INABILITY TO COOPERATE WITH OTHERS. More people lose their positions and their big opportunities in life, because of this fault, than for all other reasons combined. It is a fault which no well-informed business man, or leader will tolerate.
POSSESSION OF POWER THAT WAS NOT ACQUIRED THROUGH SELF EFFORT. (Sons and daughters of wealthy men, and others who inherit money which they did not earn). Power in the hands of one who did not acquire it gradually, is often fatal to success. QUICK RICHES are more dangerous than poverty.
INTENTIONAL DISHONESTY. There is no substitute for honesty. One may be temporarily dishonest by force of circumstances over which one has no control, without permanent damage. But, there is NO HOPE for the person who is dishonest by choice. Sooner or later, his deeds will catch up with him, and he will pay by loss of reputation, and perhaps even loss of liberty.
EGOTISM AND VANITY. These qualities serve as red lights which warn others to keep away. THEY ARE FATAL TO SUCCESS.
GUESSING INSTEAD OF THINKING. Most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire FACTS with which to THINK ACCURATELY. They prefer to act on “opinions” created by guesswork or snap-judgments.
LACK OF CAPITAL. This is a common cause of failure among those who start out in business for the first time, without sufficient reserve of capital to absorb the shock of their mistakes, and to carry them over until they have established a REPUTATION."
The only thing I'm guilty of on the list is failure to breathe correctly. On to the 13 Steps to having tons of money and feeling superior to everyone around you:
Desire
Desire is the starting point for all achievement, the first step toward riches. But it's here that we so often run into a roadblock. A person will say, "I know what I desire, but can I get it?" The answer was best expressed by Emerson: "There's nothing capricious in nature, and the implanting of a desire indicates that its gratification is in the constitution of the creature that feels it." In other words, you would not have the desire unless you were capable of its achievement.
Your burning desire is nothing more than an accurate picture of what you will one day become. So right here, firmly establish in your mind that which you desire more than anything else, and cherish and nurture that desire. Do not suppress or annihilate it. A man without desire has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.
Faith
Faith is the state of mind that may be induced or created by affirmation or repeated instructions to the subconscious mind by conscious auto suggestion. By summoning over and over again a mental image of yourself already having accomplished your main desire, you will muster the faith you need. Faith is vital to accomplishment.
Have faith that you can accomplish that which you seek, for you would never have decided upon it unless it was meant for you to accomplish it. If you find it difficult at times to have faith in yourself, you may be certain that you can have faith in these principles.
Auto Suggestion
Through repeated suggestion, the subconscious mind can be put to work for you. It's the faculty of being able to concentrate your mind on your burning desire until your subconscious mind accepts it as fact and begins to devise ways of bringing it about. Here's where hunches come from, sudden flashes of thought, inspiration, or guidance.
To access the power of auto suggestion, go into some quiet spot, perhaps in bed at night. Close your eyes and repeat aloud so you may hear your own words a careful reaffirmation of whatever your goal happens to be. If it's the accumulation of a sum of money, reiterate the time limit for its accumulation and a description of the service or merchandise you intend to give in return for it. As you carry out these instructions, see yourself already in possession of your goal.
Specialized Knowledge Knowledge is power only to the extent that it's organized into a definite plan of action and directed to a definite end. Before you can be sure of your ability to transmute desire into its monetary equivalent, you will require specialized knowledge of the service, merchandise, or profession that you intend to offer in return for fortune.
Realize that you must learn all you can about your specialty. Set aside a definite time every day for learning more about what it is you do for a living. Take the courses that are offered on your subject and associate with people who know your business well.
Imagination Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Man's only limitation, within reason, lies in the development and use of his imagination and subsequent motivation to action. The great leaders of business, industry, and finance, and the great artists, musicians, poets, and writers became great because they developed the power of self-motivation.
As you go about your daily work, think constantly of ways in which it could be done better, more efficiently. Think of the changes that are inevitable. Can they be made now? If you feel limited, remember the words of the late Frank Lloyd Wright: "The human race built most nobly when limitations were greatest and, therefore, when most was required of imagination in order to build at all."
Decision
Analysis of several hundred people who've accumulated fortunes well beyond the million-dollar mark disclose the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly and of changing these decisions slowly, if and when they were changed.
When you make up your mind, stay with it. The majority of people who fail are generally easily influenced by the opinions of others. Opinions are the cheapest commodities on earth. Keep your own counsel when you begin to put into practice the principles described here by reaching your own decisions and following them. Take no one into your confidence except the members of your mastermind alliance (as discussed later), and be very careful in your selection of this group, choosing only those who will be in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose. Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so, often handicap one through uninformed opinions and sometimes through ridicule.
Persistence Persistence is simply the power of will. Willpower and desire, when properly combined, make an irresistible pair. Persistence is to an individual what carbon is to steel. In uncounted thousands of cases, persistence has stood as the difference between success and failure. It is the lack of this quality more than any other that keeps the majority from great accomplishment. As soon as the going gets tough, they fold.
If you're to accomplish the goal you set for yourself, you must form the habit of persistence. Things will get difficult. It will seem as though there's no longer any reason to continue.
Everything in you will tell you to give up, to quit trying. It is right here that if you'll go that extra mile and keep going, the skies will clear and you'll begin to see the first signs of the abundance that is to be yours because you had the courage to persist. With persistence will come success.
Enthusiastic Support It is of great significance that behind practically every great leader has been the supportive love and inspiration of a spouse. When things get tough — and you can count on it, they will — you may be deserted by some you thought were friends. But if you've got a good woman or man supporting you, you will never be alone. He or she will be willing to start over again if necessary and will give you the new enthusiasm that comes through faith in you.
Having someone to love is having someone to share your success and accomplishments; to give you the praise that all of us need from time to time. A person can become successful without a spouse and family, but much of the real joy is lost if it cannot be shared. Take care of your spouse and children as your greatest possessions.
Organized Planning
The first of the six steps for transforming desire into reality is the formation of a definite, practical plan through which this transformation may be made (see From Desire to Reality in Six Easy Steps, pg. 40). Once you do, it is critical that you ally yourself with one or more people or a group of as many people as you may need for the creation and carrying out of your plan. These people are your "mastermind alliance."
Before forming your mastermind alliance, decide what advantages and benefits you may offer the individual members of your group in return for their cooperation. No one will work indefinitely without compensation, though this may not always be in the form of money. Arrange to meet with the members of your mastermind alliance at least twice a week, and more often if possible, until you have jointly perfected the necessary plan or plans for the accomplishment of your goal.
Maintain perfect harmony between yourself and every member of your mastermind alliance. Keep in mind these facts:
First, you are engaged in an undertaking of major importance to you. To be sure of success, you must have plans that are as faultless as possible.
Second, you must have the advantage of the experience, education, native ability, and imagination of other minds. This is in harmony with the methods followed by every person who has risen above the average. Work at this until you have a well-executed formal plan for reaching your objective. In this way you're never confused or wondering what you should do next. Every morning you know exactly what you're going to do and why. Organized planning is one the most important principles, because a person without a plan is like a ship without a course. With no place to go, disaster is a probability.
The Power of the Mastermind
No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third — a third invisible, intangible force that may be likened to a third mind. You may have noticed many times that by discussing something with another person you suddenly get good ideas as a result of the discussion, ideas you would not have gotten without this association. Well, the same thing happens to the other person. A lot of good ideas have been born in individual minds as a result of having met in committee.
Associating with your mastermind alliance is not meant as a means of letting others do your thinking for you, far from it. It is meant to stimulate your own thinking through the association with other minds. No one knows everything. The more sympathetic minds you get together — that is, minds working for a common purpose — the more related information is going to be available. Great ideas are a combination of related information.
Pick the members of your mastermind group with care. Make sure they're people you respect and who are hard working and conscientious. You'll have a lot of fun, and you'll reach your goals just that much sooner.
The Subconscious Mind The subconscious mind is a mental area in which all inputs through any of the five senses are classified and recorded, and from which they may be recalled or withdrawn like data from the storage banks of a limitless computer. No one knows very much about what we call the subconscious mind but we do know that it is incalculably powerful and can solve our problems if we go about using it the right way.
The best way is to hold in your conscious mind as often as possible a clear picture of yourself already having accomplished your goal. Know what you want. Define it clearly, and then project it on the motion picture screen of your mind. Hold it. See yourself doing and having the things you have when your objective will have been reached. Do this as often as practical, particularly at night just before you go to sleep and the first thing upon waking. As you do this, your subconscious will begin to lead you toward your objective. Don't fight it. Follow your sudden hunches, the ideas that come into your mind, knowing that they may well represent subconscious knowledge.
If you'll keep at this, you'll be amazed and delighted by the ideas that just seem to come from nowhere.
The Power of the Brain If you had access to all the wealth in the world and used only a penny, you would be doing exactly what most of us very probably have been doing in the use of our brains. You own in your brain the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known. It is the brain that has given us the computer, supersonic airplane, our deep rocket probes into outer space, the sciences, and the arts. All of what we know today and will achieve tomorrow is born from this small, gray mass each of us carries around.
Can you doubt, even for a moment, that your brain can bring you and yours everything you want here on earth? Recognize its power, give it the job you've decided to accomplish, and watch it handle it.
The Sixth Sense The sixth sense can be described as the sense through which your infinite intelligence may and will communicate. This principle is the apex of the philosophy. It can be assimilated, understood, and applied only by first mastering the other 12 principles. The sixth sense is that function of the subconscious mind that has been referred to as the creative imagination. It's also been referred to as the receiving set through which ideas flash into the mind, sometimes called hunches or inspirations.
The sixth sense cannot be described to a person who has not mastered the other principles of this philosophy, because such a person has no knowledge and no experience to serve as points of reference. The sixth sense is not something one can take off and put on at will. The ability to use this great power comes slowly through application of the other principles we've outlined. So begin to develop it now by applying the principles we've talked about here. Remember this: Man can create nothing that he does not first conceive in the form of an idea, a desire. Keep fear out of your mind. Concentrate on the mental picture of yourself achieving your desire. Cut yourself away from the average — from the mediocre — and chart your course on the dream in your heart.
These 13 principles will never let you down. You need only remember and use them.
From Desire to Reality in Six Easy StepsSix definite practical steps to transform a burning desire into reality.
1. Fix in your mind an exact picture of what you desire. It's not sufficient merely to say, for example, "I want plenty of money." Be definite as to the amount.
2. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the thing you desire. There's no such reality as something for nothing.
3. Establish a definite date by which you intend to possess the desired thing.
4. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you feel entirely ready or not to put this plan into action.
5. Write out a clear, concise statement of your responses to the preceding four steps.
6. Read your written statement aloud twice daily. Once after arising in the morning and once just before retiring at night. As you read, see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of whatever your goal happens to be.
In case any of you are wondering: I've now busted out the longest post ever. If you read this far, I don't know what to tell you. I hope your life is now changed.
Ever since the USA came close to beating Canada in Hockey, all I hear on ESPN and sports talk radio is "Are you going to start watching more hockey now?" Honestly, my answer is NO.
For the record, I didn't watch a single game during the Olympics. I had mild interest in reading recaps of the games and found the hinted comparisons with the 'Miracle' squad to be reaching. Was it a great Olympic moment? Absolutely. Does enjoyment of that game mean we should start slavishly watching NHL Hockey 8 hours a week? HECK NO.
Why? Time, Money & Women. Every sports fan has a limited amount of time to devote to watching games and that often gets cut by women, movies, women, TV or actually doing something - with a woman. If I have time to watch sports, I want it to be meaningful, not one of the 100 games in a season. (I have the same problem with NBA, MLB, even college basketball). Call me when the post season rolls around. That's the beauty of football, every game is meaningful and worth watching. There are simply too many demands on our time to make room for more Hockey. Worse yet, the NHL is very inaccessible, now only Vs. and I'd have to upgrade my dish to get it - woman says NO. Plus games are very expensive to go to - women generally don't want to go, especially if its hockey. I'd rather blow my money on something else - like a movie, nachos, ammunition, or diamonds!
The media are always trying to say with righteous indignation that they don't shape opinion, they just reflect it... blah, blah, blah. This is a clear case where they have an agenda. So my message to them is GET OFF MY BACK! I'LL WATCH WHEN I'M GOOD AND READY, YOU GOT THAT?!!??
Things I'm done with, PART 2
