Here are some spectacular looking photos of various events around the world this year as seen on MSNBC.com Video Slideshow. What they did here was quite remarkable. Some of these photos are just insane. It makes me think, "So while this was happening...someone somehow took an amazing photo of it?" (Especially when I look at the catatrosphic disaster photos in the News section.) Anyway, here they are.
Year in Pictures- NBC
12.22.2008
11.11.2008
"The Killers" still going strong
I was just thinking this morning, as I was watching the new Killers video, that the Killers have continued on a lot longer than I thought. Their first album, which I have, was pretty good. The second one has that 'when you were young' song which is pretty good. their latest hit is actually pretty good and I really enjoy the music video. It has a really good dance beat (and also has a really good work out kinda tempo). That lead singer is really compelling. Not bad, Killers...not bad, at all.
On another note, while watching top 20 videos on vh1, I noticed that I saw four male artists in a row. Where are my girls at? Adele, who is amazing, is slipping away. Beyonce or whatever she wants to be called nowadays, "Fire Cat" or "Black Mamba" or whatever, is too busy singing about being a boy. What awful lyrics. Only Beyonce can manage to pull that off. Kid Rock's new song isn't that great either. :-P
Lastly, why don't I see any hip hop on Vh1? I like me some variety. :-PPPPPPPPPPP
On another note, while watching top 20 videos on vh1, I noticed that I saw four male artists in a row. Where are my girls at? Adele, who is amazing, is slipping away. Beyonce or whatever she wants to be called nowadays, "Fire Cat" or "Black Mamba" or whatever, is too busy singing about being a boy. What awful lyrics. Only Beyonce can manage to pull that off. Kid Rock's new song isn't that great either. :-P
Lastly, why don't I see any hip hop on Vh1? I like me some variety. :-PPPPPPPPPPP
10.05.2008
8.28.2008
Project Runway Recap: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The following is meant for "What John Thinks."
Anyway, this episode starts off sans that pseudo French-looking guy who didn't understand any of the challenges. You know the guy who was supposed to be eliminated weeks ago? Let's roll the tape (DVR) and hear Kenley's thoughts (..um i think that's her name).
Kenley Collins, 25, in a nutshell: "I'm sad that Daniel is gone. He was my best friend and we worked side by side together."
Wha? Wasn't she the one laughing at his comment about his 'impeccable taste?' Maybe I'm mistaken. Anyway, I just thought that was pretty funny, if not at least totally untrue. That Kenley is shifty.
Carrying on, Keith is totally shaken since he was in the bottom two. His motivation to do better:
"I want to change the way the world dresses." He says.
Vague.
Anyway, since the last challenge involved massive trannies instead of the typical androgynous walking sticks they call models, there were two models up for elimination. What's his name, um...Joe (what kind of designer's name is that? On top of that, his model's name is something that sounds like Foccacia or Picassio???). Anyway, Joe keeps his curly haired, light skinned black model so as not to disturb the 'modeling world.' I guess he doesn't like to make waves.
So Heidi stirs things up by giving the designers a mysterious address to go to....which ends up being a parking garage. Creepy.
As they go up the haunted elevator, Kato comments "This would be hot if this were a party." Everyone else is freaked out.
Up on the roof, there are a bunch of cars.
Um...
Licious states "What are we gonna use a car for?"
My thoughts exactly.
So in a lame attempt to advertise for Saturn hybrids, the designers are put up to the challenge of .....turning car parts into an outfit. Guess the grocery store episode wasn't good enough.
To start off, they have 4 minutes to gather all their materials. What is the point of that? Why do they always do that on reality shows (for example ANTM). Everyone rushes around, getting inspired, except Stella, ehhh, Stella, who puts her foot down with, "I'm not even dealing with rushing around like a fool. How embarrassing- like rushing! I'm not moving." Meanwhile Suede is talking about collecting 'whackadoodles.'
As their time runs out, everyone goes back to the workroom. "This is all about innovation, so DO it! Have Fun!" Tim Gunn handwaves.
"It's very experimental right now..." says Licious, while everyone's tearing apart car seats, mirrors, and other heavy duty materials. Keith once again asserts how he's gonna fail this challenge, I mean, how he's gonna try to impress the judges. Stella's confused and 'trying something out of her comfort zone.' (Recipe for disaster, since she hasn't really been in danger of being eliminated yet.) Suede says 'whackadoodle' and 'bleeds for fashion,' tearing up a mirror into shreds, as an embellishment for his look.
(Anyone wanna see Ghost Town? Just saw the commercial for that. Might be stupid though.)
And we're back. Designers..designing..hm...okay, Stella's back to 'doing something not leather.' Suede talks about his dad who passed away, whom he remembers giving him a car in his youth. The designers argue about what the judges want. "They want diversity." "You never know."
At this point, everyone looks around and sees that everyone else grabbed seatbelts (seatbelts are so the new shower curtain of the season). So everyone tries to use them like 'no one else is using them.' Kenley for one, uses air filters instead and actually uses a sharpee to create a zebra pattern. Pretty creative.
The black guy is feeling pretty confident about his outfit. It's futuristic. Velma is talking about her dress, that has a different silhouette and comments that 'Everyone is using seatbelts. So I want to use them in a different way." Yeah, we know.
As usual everyone's falling behind and then Tim Gunn shows up to tell everyone that their models are coming in for a fitting. He informs Kenley that her model is dropping out of the competition and one of the other models, Jermaine (who was eliminated at the beginning of the episode) is stepping in to take her place. Deflated and further set back, Kenley now has to refit her outfit. Shows a little ugliness, she complains that her model 'bailed on her.' Then she gets a little more ugly, trashing her new model with the following, rather entertaining observation, "My new model, Jermaine, has a completely different body. She is completely flat and boxy, where Shannon was very narrow and curvy. So, I have to change everything. I have a lot of work to do."
"You sound like Tim," chimes Stella.
At that point it would have been funny if Tim actually showed up and said "You DO have a lot of work to do. Make it work!'
Anyway, after a short commercial break, Tim actually does show up to check up on everyone and dash their hopes. He starts with 'Licious and doesn't really like it as indicated by "um...keep working, you have a ton of work to do!' Translation: Not impressed.
The black guy explains his look and Tim really likes it. Oh his name is Jerrell.
Looking at the humble Korto's kreation (her future label name), Tim also really digs it. He calls the silhouette a '60' s mod look that I think is fabulous' and tells her to 'pull this off! go-go-go.' Translation: Loves the concept but doesn't want her to get complacent, so he's motivating her to execute it well.
Moving on to Stella, trying to do something 'unexpected,' Tim plainly states that her outfit isn't innovative enough.
As he walks over to Velma-girl, he's really impressed and he 'gets it,' telling her to 'figure all this out, but you have a great foundation.' Translation: See Korto above.
And then we go over to Keith, who's more focused on impressing the judges this week than anything else. "But you have to believe in it and it has to work,' advises Tim, astutely so.
And scene.
With some time elapsed, Terri meanly calls Korto's outfit 'Jeepers Creepers," to which Korto calmly replies "I am so hating on you right now."
Meanwhile Keith is having a total meltdown, throwing stuff, warning the others not to 'mess up his sewing machine,' and revealing his sense of entitlement with this line 'Everyone wants to win but I think I deserve it more."
Anyway, at this point we find Stella chatting with her boyfriend "Ratbones," (God given name, William) on her lovely 'tmobile sidekick.' She reveals that she wants to create a clothing line with him called 'Zotis and Bones.' They exchange 'I love you's" Aw.
Elimination Day has dawned and now it's crunch time. Models go in. Tresemme hair salon and Bluefly time! No trannies this time. Oh well.
As Keith admires his crappy work, he tells his model not to sit in her skirt. (He tells her this before she has to go into hair and makeup. Idiot.)
10 minutes to runway time, and Keith discovers that there's a tear in his model's skirt. "Did you sit down?" "Yeah, they made me." Poor model. Is there no model union to protect their rights??? They get treated like crap. Anyway, Keith starts whining 'When I saw Alissa with the tear in the skirt, I was pissed because I've given a small task to a model and I would hope that she could follow direction. I know that it's a competition for her too, but there's so much more at stake for me than there is for her." What an jerk. It's not her fault the skirt he made wasn't wearable. What kinda skirt is 'standing room only?'
"Welcome to the Runway....blah, blah, ...one day in...next day out..." starts the Heidster." For this challenge you had to recycle car parts for the look of your choice and this was another test of your ability to be innovative." Klum introduces the judges this week. Kors, check. No NinaGarcia- instead- the very red-headed, Laura Bennett (season 3 finalist) fills in. I guess she's not pregnant at the moment. Also, someone named Rachel Zoe, apparently the star of some show called the "Rachel Zoe Project," is the last judge. Whatever.
Jerell's up first. His model strolls down with the tallest pony tail ever, but she looks good. Very futuristic. Hot even.
Keith's sucks. My mom could make something better blind-folded. Off of a $3 pattern from Wal-mart.
Terri's is hot. I'd wear it.
Kenley's is kinda vintage like usual but it's elegant and pretty with an air filter skirt covered in sharpeed zebra print, flaring out over a pencil skirt. Nice.
Velma's looks amazing, with an edgy exaggerated silhouette featuring what I like to call "super hips."
Suede's oufit, featuring silvery fringes off the hem of the dress, is okay. Looks kinda like his skirt threw up a pom pom (wow that was Kors-esque).
Korto's is an absolutely elegant and sophisticated jacket completely woven with seatbelts (but you could never tell). Beautiful.
'Licious's is a good try but it has some problems (especially in the boobs part...it's messed up). Making boobs a weird shape is never a good thing.
Joe continues to show his penchant for sports wear with his version of a 'motor-cross kinda dress.'
Lastly, Stella's is different for her, but disjointed looking.
The middle of the pack qualifiers this week are Terri, Suede, Joe, and Kenley.
Bringing out the models, we pretty much figure out the Top Three includes Jerell, Korto, and Velma girl (Leann, apparently) and the Bottom Three include 'Licious, whom Heidi claims will have 'no sex for 7 years' for breaking a mirror (I think you mean 'bad luck for 7 years,' Heidi), Stella, who gets criticized for having a top and skirt that look randomly placed together, and Keith, who frankly embarrasses himself. The back of his outfit looks horrible and the Bennett points out that his outfit has absolutely no concept. He doesn't take the criticism well at all, blaming his model and his outfit and gets an insightful mini-lecture from Michael Kors.
The Top Three end up in the following order, from Jerell, in third place, to Korto, in second place, to the winner, Leann (since she won, I'll stop calling her Velma. She earned it along with some Scooby snacks).
'Licious is dismissed next as the least worst of the bottom three, leaving Stella and Keith.
"Stella.....you're in, you can leave the runway. That means Keith, you're out."
Keith holds in the tears up until Tim Gunn tells him to pack up his things. Then he cries in the confessional shot, regrettably leaving because he tried to create something he thought the judges would like, instead of creating something that was truly his. Saw that one coming. Not a very surprising episode.
Next episode doesn't look as entertaining as last week (Trannies), but hopefully it's less predictable than today's. We have a top fashion legend, Diane Vonversenbergggg (I don't know, apparently she's intimidatingly huge in the fashion world). We should have a lot of designers showing some signs of stress, as they try to impress this lady. Looks like the pressure is on. You'll at least see some tears from Kensley, who has been doing well despite feeling the pressure times. Could be her breaking point. We'll see. Other than that, I feel pretty confident that a black designer could win this season. Korto, Terri, and Jerell are all really solid.
Next time, your regularly scheduled columnist, John Ceballos, will be back with his regular format. Thank you for bearing with me for now. Remember to reduce, reduce, and recycle. And if you're ever in a bind, living in a van down by the river, you CAN make yourself a fierce outfit. Peace out.
8.25.2008
6.26.2008
New Discovery
Yesterday, I discovered "The Flight of the Conchords" on FNMTV with their video 'All the ladies of the World'. Hilarious. It was like watching an SNL short appear on MTV as a legitimate music video. How transcendent.
Apparently, these guys (Jermaine and Bret) have had a show on HBO and have toured Australia and the US as well as their homeland, New Zealand, as a parody folk duo (for a couple of years now...or longer...what do i know???). To me (the one who was born yesterday), their live performances are better than anything else they do, especially their 'Business Time,' 'Issues/Think about it,' 'Hiphopopotamus v. Rhinoceros,' and the classic 'Albi, the Racist Dragon.' I do give a 'kudos' (whatever that is...sounds like a candy bar to me) to another one of their great music videos, 'Mutha Uckers.' Pretty good stuff.
Anyway, here's a little 'Business Time' for your viewing pleasure. P.S., what is the deal with 'FNMTV'?? According to a commercial I saw, it stands for "Friday Night Music Television.' Okay, MTV, or FNMTV, or whatever your name is nowadays, how come I saw this 'FNMTV' program on a Wednesday morning? MTV. Take a clue from Youtube...or make a Youtube show. Join the two worlds together.
Apparently, these guys (Jermaine and Bret) have had a show on HBO and have toured Australia and the US as well as their homeland, New Zealand, as a parody folk duo (for a couple of years now...or longer...what do i know???). To me (the one who was born yesterday), their live performances are better than anything else they do, especially their 'Business Time,' 'Issues/Think about it,' 'Hiphopopotamus v. Rhinoceros,' and the classic 'Albi, the Racist Dragon.' I do give a 'kudos' (whatever that is...sounds like a candy bar to me) to another one of their great music videos, 'Mutha Uckers.' Pretty good stuff.
Anyway, here's a little 'Business Time' for your viewing pleasure. P.S., what is the deal with 'FNMTV'?? According to a commercial I saw, it stands for "Friday Night Music Television.' Okay, MTV, or FNMTV, or whatever your name is nowadays, how come I saw this 'FNMTV' program on a Wednesday morning? MTV. Take a clue from Youtube...or make a Youtube show. Join the two worlds together.
2.24.2008
2.19.2008
Giada's Parmesan Pop-overs Recipe
I love, love, love Giada de Laurentis. I'm a HUGE fan. Anyway, today on her lovely show "Everyday Italian" (I also immensely LOVE all things Italian), she had this cute little recipe for "Parmesan Popovers." Looks easy enough to make (and I intend to try this one out).
So, first you put this stuff into a blender:
3 eggs
3/4 cups of flour
some Herbs de Provence (fancy)
some fresh parsley (mmm love fresh herbs)
pinch of salt
some black pepper
(Giada didn't tell me how much of the last 4 items she was adding, so you just kinda have to eyeball it)
1 cup of yummy milk
1/2 to a whole cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese (she didn't specify how much)
Then you blend it up. Theeeen...you pour the batter into greased muffin tins. You pour them 3/4 of the way up so that the 'pop-overs' can expand and pop over the sides of the tins. Yum.
You 'pop' these into the oven at 400 degrees for 20 min. Giada warns not to be tempted to open the oven prematurely because this prevents the popovers from puffing up as much as they should. When they are golden brown (Giada's favorite food color), pull them out and let them cool for about 10 minutes.
These looked really yummy, cute, and easy to make. Not only that but she was sweet enough to include these into a surprise picnic basket she took to her husband as a surprise lunch. How thoughtful. She even packed everything into cute little containers. I love that attention to detail!
Anyway, there's the recipe. I know I'm gonna try it and I highly look forward to it.
A lover of yummy food,
Erica Colon
PS. Giada is on Ellen today. YES! (Wow, I'm such a nerdle)
So, first you put this stuff into a blender:
3 eggs
3/4 cups of flour
some Herbs de Provence (fancy)
some fresh parsley (mmm love fresh herbs)
pinch of salt
some black pepper
(Giada didn't tell me how much of the last 4 items she was adding, so you just kinda have to eyeball it)
1 cup of yummy milk
1/2 to a whole cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese (she didn't specify how much)
Then you blend it up. Theeeen...you pour the batter into greased muffin tins. You pour them 3/4 of the way up so that the 'pop-overs' can expand and pop over the sides of the tins. Yum.
You 'pop' these into the oven at 400 degrees for 20 min. Giada warns not to be tempted to open the oven prematurely because this prevents the popovers from puffing up as much as they should. When they are golden brown (Giada's favorite food color), pull them out and let them cool for about 10 minutes.
These looked really yummy, cute, and easy to make. Not only that but she was sweet enough to include these into a surprise picnic basket she took to her husband as a surprise lunch. How thoughtful. She even packed everything into cute little containers. I love that attention to detail!
Anyway, there's the recipe. I know I'm gonna try it and I highly look forward to it.
A lover of yummy food,
Erica Colon
PS. Giada is on Ellen today. YES! (Wow, I'm such a nerdle)
2.12.2008
Self Help Book Notes from Primerica List: Success is not an Accident
So.... as a new Primerica Associate, I have to accomplish a certain set of things, one of them being reading at least 10 pages of self help books every night and every morning. Yesterday, I went to the Oviedo Library (yes, we have a library) to re-establish my library card (it was so old, it had my dad's co-signature on it, which is required when the card is issued out to a minor). While I was waiting for the new card, I found one book on my list called "Success is not an accident," by Tommy Newberry.
There are many others I have to read, but I'm only going to read them one at a time so it's okay that I didn't find the first four or so at the top of the list... Also, being the scanner type that I am (I think) and also being the curious snatcher of all shiny things, I happened go off on a tangent and pick up Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit," (apparently she's a famous choreographer for Broadway musicals i.e. John's comment "THE Twyla Tharp? Wait, I don't know any other Twyla Tharps...no I'm pretty sure no other ones exist...Nevermind,"). I also picked up two other books called "Nickel and Dimed, On (Not Getting By in America)" by Barbara Ehrenreich and "The Working Poor, Invisible in America" by Pulitzer prize winner David K. Shipler aaaaand one more!- "Overcoming Indecisiveness" by what sounds like a doctor by trade, Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D. Phew.
The two books on working class America interested me because my new job is centered around helping middle class families with their financial goals. Also, the fact that I was given a list of books to read was way too structured for me :D. 1)I think I just enjoy rebelling against the list a tiny bit, I guess because it makes me feel outrageously defiant and 2)Because I like to see different perspectives and maybe these two offer some other ideas AND 3)Understanding the difficulties that come with hard work (over smart work perhaps?), not that I haven't been there myself, could help me relate to others. That last reason was total poop biscuits. (Inside joke). (Substitute the word 'bullsh*t). !
Oh and if you know me at all, you know that "Overcoming Indecisiveness" has my name written all over it.
Anyways, time for some self help goodness to get me back on track...
So, last night I read through the intro and chapter 1.
First I will attempt to recall whatever I can off the top of my head....Then I will just go and type up critical stuff right out of the book for my own benefit. It's all credited to Tommy Newberry.
I. Okay, so what I recall are these major points of:
Success is Not an Accident, Tommy Newberry, America's Success Coach
Alright, well, what did I read... Here's one major point that I took away:
1) People reap what they sow.
It's true that life is unfair. Some people are born into wealth, some are born into poverty. Some are smarter or more attractive than others, etc. But Tommy Newberry says the unfairness is just how life is. He says that without the inequalities we wouldn't have the need, desire, or motivation to rise above all the obstacles and become successful. Many people who have a great set of cards dealt to them (life-poker analogy) can be totally unsuccessful when they decide to do nothing with what they have, wasting their time, defaulting into mediocrity, just getting by and not unlocking their full potential.
While I'm reading this, the cynic in me leads me to think that some of Newberry's words resonate with ulterior political motives...like he's anti-socialist, pure pro-free market competition and very conservative. Maybe that's true, but anyway, some of the ideas seem to make sense. I don't like that he seems to be isolating liberal/socialists from a political standpoint or how political ideology plays such a major role in a self help book (seeing as something so helpful should appeal to everyone regardless of their political ideals), but there were some key concepts that I think are very helpful and very true.
So going beyond politics, and getting back to the book, everyone reaps what they sow. Because life is littered with inequalities, some people have more obstacles than others, but it is all about taking full responsibility for every choice you make instead of assessing blame. I can accept this and I think it's true. Take responsibility over your own life and the choices you make. Everyone has a different set of obstacles, some more than others, but that can't stop you from doing the best with the hand you are dealt. You could have the best hand, for example, a lot of smarts and talents, and never amount to anything. Or you could have the worst hand, lots of obstacles standing in your way, and become a major success.
But Newberry poses the question "What does success mean to you?" Taking things a step further, Newberry proposes that you reflect on your definition of success and decide whether or not it is based on "outside circumstances or other people." Newberry also points out that "the most successful people in the world are those who have taken the time to figure out exactly who they want to be and what they want to achieve (no wonder I haven't been successful...I'm the most indecisive, confused person I know), and then invest the hours of their days in activities consistent with these ideals." Here are Newberry's
5 criteria to help crystallize your unique definition of success: (page 5)
1. Controllable: Make your definition within your control, not based on outside circumstances or other people. (My thought: because you can only deal with or change what you can control. Compare to Covey's spheres of influence in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
2. Measureable: Make your definition quantifiable so that you can hold yourself accountable. (My thought: For example instead of saying, I would be successful this year by losing weight, say I would be successful this year if I lost x lbs or x inches off my waist. Have a quantifiable goal means having a clear goal with a starting point and a finish line to try to get to).
3. Perpetual: Formulate your definition so that you can satisfy your definition on a daily basis. (My thought: Example: I would be successful this year if I lost x lbs or x inches off my waist by doing x hrs of exercise every weekday).
4. Personal: Choose your own definition, not a borrowed one. (My thought: chose a definition of success for you, not what may be popular or what your parents want, or what other people think, for example. Also, I have the most trouble with this step, because I feel like a lot of what people want is wrapped up in 'other circumstances and other people' through socialization. What people think defines success in Western society I think would tend to be different than people that were socialized in the East would think. I have a hard time pinning down what is truly personal and separating that by what's expected by others).
5. Principle based: Establish your definition on absolute truths, not on subjective, timely or situational values. (My thought: This makes sense, but how is this not relative? Some people don't even buy into absolute truths. What would a nihilist think? Although nihilism is arguably paradoxical itself. How would you know what the absolute truths are without real life experience? As a young person, do you rely on what you were taught or what is logical? This is tricky for me. If someone thinks a negative, harmful, or 'evil' principle is absolutely true and they establish their definition of success around their faulty principle, what do we say about them? With bad principles would they be doomed to fail? Or could they succeed with bad principles? I think Newberry would say that their 'bad' principles weren't based on absolute truths or the 'immutable laws of nature.' Many of us pursue the truth, but it kinda freaks me out when someone thinks they know what all those truths are. I guess you have to decide for yourself with experience? That's one thing that initially bothered me with Covey. He talked about living life the 'right way' with 'correct principles.' I know I have intuitive feelings about what I think is 'right' but how do I know it really is so?
II. Now that your definition of success is crystallized- hard as rock! or muddied up and confused :), I'll quickly go over a couple other points and some quotes worth mentioning:
Reap, then sow. Success is planned, not an accident. "Success in life is not based on need, but seed.' If I want more out of life, I have to contribute more. Example again: If I want to lose x inches of my waist by the end of the year, I have to eat well and exercise every day. I have to put forth some effort, perpetually. I'm not going to accidently lose 3 inches by doing nothing.
"When you try to get something for nothing, you become nothing." (I kinda like that one a lot)
"Everything you do or fail to do counts. Every action has a consequence even if it isn't immediate" (I like this one too, but I feel like some people are better at 'getting away' with stuff than others. According to this, though, they could be paying the price later)
"...when you make a choice, you also choose the consequence of that choice." (Aren't some consequences unexpected or out of our control? For example, freak accidents? I guess the point is that you're not helping anyone by thinking that way.)
"Nobody can stop the ticking clock." (What about that stuff rule in NFL games, where you can call time out in the middle of an extra point kick? Maybe that should be done away with :)
"An extraordinary life is simply the accumulation of thousands of efforts, often unseen by others, that lead to the accomplishment of worthwhile goals"
"You are rich with choice."
"My father taught me that the only helping hand you're ever going to be able to rely on is at the end of your sleeve." -J.C. Watts
III. Okay, I feel like I'm repeating myself. Here are a few more points:
I gotta hurry before Namaste yoga starts on fit-tv! (Dork alert)
Last topics:
-"What's Your excuse?" "It's very easy to say 'I'm not responsible,' and so hard to say 'I am responsible."
Stop using your brain to create rational lies and commit to an "excuse free zone." "Look to only yourself for the cause of your problems or lack" (Makes sense, since you can only control yourself... a topic covered at our last meeting on Saturday morning when I was put on the spot about a comment I made).
-"Excuse Exploder: Whenever you think of an excuse, ask yourself if there has ever been anyone, anywhere who has been in similar circumstances and who has succeeded in spite of it. When you move beyond the whining and justifying, you'll find that the answer is almost always 'yes'..." (pg 13)
-"Stay empowered and in control by analyzing all unpleasant situations from the perspective of what you can do to avoid their recurrence"
-"...anticipate and eliminate all excuses in advance"
-"Remember, there is never enough rooms for buts and brilliance" *giggle* "Do I want my Big But or do I want my goal?" (pg 15) hahahhahah!
- be a doer instead of a feeler (This goes against my personality profile. I'm an intuitive person, not a logical one, but I'll keep this in mind and make an extra effort to overcome the passive 'go with the flow' tendency)
- Abundance v. survival: 'Focus on what you can earn...consider what the seemingly impossible possibilities...and start asking what your most magnificent goal should and could be..."
-"Your success blesses others"
IV. Lastly, "The Bill is Responsibilities" is shown on pg. 18 (Don't want to give the entire book away) and the last page of this chapter has a list of assignments.
Lesson 1 Assignments:
1. Write out your personal definitions of success and failure.
2. Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On the left hand side, write down everything in your life that you can control, either partially or completely. In the right hand column, write down those aspects of your life over which you have absolutely no control.
3. Write out 20 of your positive characteristics.
4. Write out 20 of your past accomplishments.
5. Write out 20 of your greatest blessings.
6. Write out 20 blessings you expect to be grateful for 9 years from now.
7. Describe your ideal day in detail, from the moment you wake up until you drift to sleep. Include as many emotion-provoking details as possible.
(This is all straight out of the book "Success Is Not An Accident" by Tommy Newberry. I apologize if this seems like plagiarism but I'm not claiming any of this. I'm just typing out all the stuff that stood out). You can read the book yourself if you want to check out the "Bill of Responsibilities."
That's it for now. I'll be back next time with the next chapter and it's highlights. Thanks for reading.
There are many others I have to read, but I'm only going to read them one at a time so it's okay that I didn't find the first four or so at the top of the list... Also, being the scanner type that I am (I think) and also being the curious snatcher of all shiny things, I happened go off on a tangent and pick up Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit," (apparently she's a famous choreographer for Broadway musicals i.e. John's comment "THE Twyla Tharp? Wait, I don't know any other Twyla Tharps...no I'm pretty sure no other ones exist...Nevermind,"). I also picked up two other books called "Nickel and Dimed, On (Not Getting By in America)" by Barbara Ehrenreich and "The Working Poor, Invisible in America" by Pulitzer prize winner David K. Shipler aaaaand one more!- "Overcoming Indecisiveness" by what sounds like a doctor by trade, Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D. Phew.
The two books on working class America interested me because my new job is centered around helping middle class families with their financial goals. Also, the fact that I was given a list of books to read was way too structured for me :D. 1)I think I just enjoy rebelling against the list a tiny bit, I guess because it makes me feel outrageously defiant and 2)Because I like to see different perspectives and maybe these two offer some other ideas AND 3)Understanding the difficulties that come with hard work (over smart work perhaps?), not that I haven't been there myself, could help me relate to others. That last reason was total poop biscuits. (Inside joke). (Substitute the word 'bullsh*t). !
Oh and if you know me at all, you know that "Overcoming Indecisiveness" has my name written all over it.
Anyways, time for some self help goodness to get me back on track...
So, last night I read through the intro and chapter 1.
First I will attempt to recall whatever I can off the top of my head....Then I will just go and type up critical stuff right out of the book for my own benefit. It's all credited to Tommy Newberry.
I. Okay, so what I recall are these major points of:
Success is Not an Accident, Tommy Newberry, America's Success Coach
Alright, well, what did I read... Here's one major point that I took away:
1) People reap what they sow.
It's true that life is unfair. Some people are born into wealth, some are born into poverty. Some are smarter or more attractive than others, etc. But Tommy Newberry says the unfairness is just how life is. He says that without the inequalities we wouldn't have the need, desire, or motivation to rise above all the obstacles and become successful. Many people who have a great set of cards dealt to them (life-poker analogy) can be totally unsuccessful when they decide to do nothing with what they have, wasting their time, defaulting into mediocrity, just getting by and not unlocking their full potential.
While I'm reading this, the cynic in me leads me to think that some of Newberry's words resonate with ulterior political motives...like he's anti-socialist, pure pro-free market competition and very conservative. Maybe that's true, but anyway, some of the ideas seem to make sense. I don't like that he seems to be isolating liberal/socialists from a political standpoint or how political ideology plays such a major role in a self help book (seeing as something so helpful should appeal to everyone regardless of their political ideals), but there were some key concepts that I think are very helpful and very true.
So going beyond politics, and getting back to the book, everyone reaps what they sow. Because life is littered with inequalities, some people have more obstacles than others, but it is all about taking full responsibility for every choice you make instead of assessing blame. I can accept this and I think it's true. Take responsibility over your own life and the choices you make. Everyone has a different set of obstacles, some more than others, but that can't stop you from doing the best with the hand you are dealt. You could have the best hand, for example, a lot of smarts and talents, and never amount to anything. Or you could have the worst hand, lots of obstacles standing in your way, and become a major success.
But Newberry poses the question "What does success mean to you?" Taking things a step further, Newberry proposes that you reflect on your definition of success and decide whether or not it is based on "outside circumstances or other people." Newberry also points out that "the most successful people in the world are those who have taken the time to figure out exactly who they want to be and what they want to achieve (no wonder I haven't been successful...I'm the most indecisive, confused person I know), and then invest the hours of their days in activities consistent with these ideals." Here are Newberry's
5 criteria to help crystallize your unique definition of success: (page 5)
1. Controllable: Make your definition within your control, not based on outside circumstances or other people. (My thought: because you can only deal with or change what you can control. Compare to Covey's spheres of influence in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
2. Measureable: Make your definition quantifiable so that you can hold yourself accountable. (My thought: For example instead of saying, I would be successful this year by losing weight, say I would be successful this year if I lost x lbs or x inches off my waist. Have a quantifiable goal means having a clear goal with a starting point and a finish line to try to get to).
3. Perpetual: Formulate your definition so that you can satisfy your definition on a daily basis. (My thought: Example: I would be successful this year if I lost x lbs or x inches off my waist by doing x hrs of exercise every weekday).
4. Personal: Choose your own definition, not a borrowed one. (My thought: chose a definition of success for you, not what may be popular or what your parents want, or what other people think, for example. Also, I have the most trouble with this step, because I feel like a lot of what people want is wrapped up in 'other circumstances and other people' through socialization. What people think defines success in Western society I think would tend to be different than people that were socialized in the East would think. I have a hard time pinning down what is truly personal and separating that by what's expected by others).
5. Principle based: Establish your definition on absolute truths, not on subjective, timely or situational values. (My thought: This makes sense, but how is this not relative? Some people don't even buy into absolute truths. What would a nihilist think? Although nihilism is arguably paradoxical itself. How would you know what the absolute truths are without real life experience? As a young person, do you rely on what you were taught or what is logical? This is tricky for me. If someone thinks a negative, harmful, or 'evil' principle is absolutely true and they establish their definition of success around their faulty principle, what do we say about them? With bad principles would they be doomed to fail? Or could they succeed with bad principles? I think Newberry would say that their 'bad' principles weren't based on absolute truths or the 'immutable laws of nature.' Many of us pursue the truth, but it kinda freaks me out when someone thinks they know what all those truths are. I guess you have to decide for yourself with experience? That's one thing that initially bothered me with Covey. He talked about living life the 'right way' with 'correct principles.' I know I have intuitive feelings about what I think is 'right' but how do I know it really is so?
II. Now that your definition of success is crystallized- hard as rock! or muddied up and confused :), I'll quickly go over a couple other points and some quotes worth mentioning:
Reap, then sow. Success is planned, not an accident. "Success in life is not based on need, but seed.' If I want more out of life, I have to contribute more. Example again: If I want to lose x inches of my waist by the end of the year, I have to eat well and exercise every day. I have to put forth some effort, perpetually. I'm not going to accidently lose 3 inches by doing nothing.
"When you try to get something for nothing, you become nothing." (I kinda like that one a lot)
"Everything you do or fail to do counts. Every action has a consequence even if it isn't immediate" (I like this one too, but I feel like some people are better at 'getting away' with stuff than others. According to this, though, they could be paying the price later)
"...when you make a choice, you also choose the consequence of that choice." (Aren't some consequences unexpected or out of our control? For example, freak accidents? I guess the point is that you're not helping anyone by thinking that way.)
"Nobody can stop the ticking clock." (What about that stuff rule in NFL games, where you can call time out in the middle of an extra point kick? Maybe that should be done away with :)
"An extraordinary life is simply the accumulation of thousands of efforts, often unseen by others, that lead to the accomplishment of worthwhile goals"
"You are rich with choice."
"My father taught me that the only helping hand you're ever going to be able to rely on is at the end of your sleeve." -J.C. Watts
III. Okay, I feel like I'm repeating myself. Here are a few more points:
I gotta hurry before Namaste yoga starts on fit-tv! (Dork alert)
Last topics:
-"What's Your excuse?" "It's very easy to say 'I'm not responsible,' and so hard to say 'I am responsible."
Stop using your brain to create rational lies and commit to an "excuse free zone." "Look to only yourself for the cause of your problems or lack" (Makes sense, since you can only control yourself... a topic covered at our last meeting on Saturday morning when I was put on the spot about a comment I made).
-"Excuse Exploder: Whenever you think of an excuse, ask yourself if there has ever been anyone, anywhere who has been in similar circumstances and who has succeeded in spite of it. When you move beyond the whining and justifying, you'll find that the answer is almost always 'yes'..." (pg 13)
-"Stay empowered and in control by analyzing all unpleasant situations from the perspective of what you can do to avoid their recurrence"
-"...anticipate and eliminate all excuses in advance"
-"Remember, there is never enough rooms for buts and brilliance" *giggle* "Do I want my Big But or do I want my goal?" (pg 15) hahahhahah!
- be a doer instead of a feeler (This goes against my personality profile. I'm an intuitive person, not a logical one, but I'll keep this in mind and make an extra effort to overcome the passive 'go with the flow' tendency)
- Abundance v. survival: 'Focus on what you can earn...consider what the seemingly impossible possibilities...and start asking what your most magnificent goal should and could be..."
-"Your success blesses others"
IV. Lastly, "The Bill is Responsibilities" is shown on pg. 18 (Don't want to give the entire book away) and the last page of this chapter has a list of assignments.
Lesson 1 Assignments:
1. Write out your personal definitions of success and failure.
2. Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On the left hand side, write down everything in your life that you can control, either partially or completely. In the right hand column, write down those aspects of your life over which you have absolutely no control.
3. Write out 20 of your positive characteristics.
4. Write out 20 of your past accomplishments.
5. Write out 20 of your greatest blessings.
6. Write out 20 blessings you expect to be grateful for 9 years from now.
7. Describe your ideal day in detail, from the moment you wake up until you drift to sleep. Include as many emotion-provoking details as possible.
(This is all straight out of the book "Success Is Not An Accident" by Tommy Newberry. I apologize if this seems like plagiarism but I'm not claiming any of this. I'm just typing out all the stuff that stood out). You can read the book yourself if you want to check out the "Bill of Responsibilities."
That's it for now. I'll be back next time with the next chapter and it's highlights. Thanks for reading.
1.16.2008
A movie worth watching
I didn't think the movie Once would be anything special until I saw this scene.
Here, Guy teaches Girl one of his songs. If you've ever had a really good jam session with someone (If in the non-musical world, if you've ever just really naturally clicked with someone on any level), you'll know how amazing it feels to be in harmony, in tune, communicating in the same language, connecting, expressing your feelings, spontaneously creating some new with someone else, etc, etc, etc. Even if you're not into 'romantic' things, this movie is so worth it. Check it out.
Another good song in the movie: "When your mind's made up"
Here, Guy teaches Girl one of his songs. If you've ever had a really good jam session with someone (If in the non-musical world, if you've ever just really naturally clicked with someone on any level), you'll know how amazing it feels to be in harmony, in tune, communicating in the same language, connecting, expressing your feelings, spontaneously creating some new with someone else, etc, etc, etc. Even if you're not into 'romantic' things, this movie is so worth it. Check it out.
Another good song in the movie: "When your mind's made up"
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