INSPIRATIONAL: Dolores Hope; dead at the age of 102

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dolores-hope-remembered-for-deep-catholic-faith/

Dolores Hope remembered for deep Catholic faith

By Kevin J. Jones

*** begin quote ***

Los Angeles, Calif., Sep 21, 2011 / 12:31 am (CNA).- Dolores Hope, the widow of entertainer Bob Hope and a supporter of many Catholic charities, was a Catholic of “deep abiding faith,” Archbishop José H. Gomez said in tribute to her life.

“Both the entertainment world and the Church have lost a woman of profound faith, gifted musical talent, and dedication to the betterment of peoples world-wide. The death of Dolores Hope leaves a huge void in Southern California,” he said.

“May she now enter into that eternal life and light prepared for her by the God whom she loved so fully and deeply.”

Mrs. Hope died Sept. 19 at the age of 102.

*** end quote ***

In this day and age, she certainly made her mark quietly.

I always gave them credit for class. He for his clean although risque troop shows. Her for her USO work.

An amazing couple.

World’s a little poorer without them.

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Sep-21 @ 10:37


INSPIRATIONAL: Now that’s “constituant service”

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/20/us-congressman-cpr-idUSTRE78J7AU20110920

Mon, Sep 19 2011
Congressman Phil Roe performs CPR on man at airport
By Colleen Jenkins
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina | Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:39pm EDT

*** begin quote ***

(Reuters) – Representative Phil Roe retired from his medical career to go to Congress, but on Tuesday he put his doctor skills to use to help save a man’s life at a Charlotte, North Carolina airport.

*** end quote ***

Now that’s “constituant service”!!!

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Sep-20 @ 21:39


INSPIRATIONAL: “Leave Your Tower”? Are they kidding!

Friday, September 16, 2011

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/7-steps-to-making-your-dream-come-true/

7 Steps to Making Your Dream Come True
Written by Doug Rice
Categories: productivity tips, self improvement

*** begin quote ***

#3. Leave Your Tower

To make your dreams come true, you’ve got to get started.

Eventually, you need to move from the realm of thinking to the realm of doing. You need to make a “no turning back” decision that sets you in the direction of accomplishing your goals.

For Rapunzel, this decision is to leave her tower for the first time in her life. Once her feet touch the ground, she realizes that she’s taken the biggest step that she’ll need to take during her entire journey. “I can’t believe I did this!” She keeps shouting as she experiences her newfound freedom.

Have you taken the initial step? Or, are you still stuck in your tower dreaming? Nothing will ever happen until you get started. You’ve got to get out of your comfort zone and burn the bridge leading back to it. Break off the unhealthy relationship you’re in. Buy an expensive set of paints for your first masterpiece. Quit your job. Do something that sends the signal that you are serious and you’re not turning back.

*** end quote ***

# – # – #

I was doing ok until he said “leave tower”. I’m an ITSJ!

<<Yes, I KNOW it’s ISTJ, BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), as an IT guy, I LIKE it as ITSJ!>>

# # # # #


TECHNOLOGY: “Low” tech? I’d call it “essential”

Monday, September 12, 2011

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-vander-ark/education-innovation-_b_938991.html

Tom Vander ArkCEO, Open Education Solutions
18 Low-Tech Learning Innovations
Posted: 8/28/11 01:00 PM ET

Education Reform , Google , Teachers , Education Innovation , Education Idea , Education Innovation America , Innovation , Learning Innovations , Learning Low-Tech , Teacher Innovations , Education News

*** begin quote ***

I frequently write about new learning technologies, but there are lots of low tech learning innovations (i.e., produce better outcomes and potentially cost less). Here’s a lit of 18. I bet you can add two to the list to make it an even 20. At this point, some aren’t really innovations, they are demonstrated best practices but they exist in so few places they are worth mentioning.

1. High expectations and future focus. In the first minute of visiting an Aspire elementary school you see, feel, and hear about the college going focus — a unique and powerful combination of high expectations and future orientation.

*** end quote ***

Seems like this is a “universal” low tech list. Never saw an enterprise use this approach.

# # # # #


INSPIRATIONAL: The “infamous Florena Budwin”

Thursday, September 1, 2011

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/?p=4284

Confederate Prison Site Turned National Cemetery
By Ron Walters August 15, 2011 at 11:52 am

*** begin quote ***

Not far from the trenches a single headstone sits apart, bearing the name Florena Budwin. Her life was a fascinating one. Having disguised herself as a man to follow her husband into battle, she was captured and interned at the notorious Andersonville prison and later moved to the Florence stockade. Owing to meager rations and disease at the prison, she fell ill. The doctor who treated her uncovered her carefully guarded secret. Following her recovery, she stayed on at the prison to nurse her fellow soldiers, fell ill again, and died in January 1865.

*** end quote ***

Interesting that women “snuck” in to fight?

The blurb on this post says: “the infamous Florena Budwin”

Why “infamous”?

Inspirational that she said as a nurse.

Women are “tough stuff”.

Like the joke says, “if men had to have babies, the human race would have end after the first generation”.

# # # # #


INSPIRATIONAL: West Point’s code

Thursday, August 25, 2011

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903327904576524680928198272.html

MAIN STREETAUGUST 22, 2011, 11:09 P.M. ET
Duty, Honor, Football
What West Point could teach Miami.

*** begin quote ***

The ingredients of Miami’s vices—the nightclubs, the prostitutes, the yachts—make it far juicier than the typical pay-for-play. The scandal here is not that teenage football players behave badly when a wealthy benefactor indulges their every appetite. The scandal is what it says about the impoverished sense of community on our college and university campuses, and the fecklessness of those who know better.

*** end quote ***

Time for the NCAA to admit it’s all about the Benjamins and drop the pretense of “amateur”. But then what do we accept bad conduct from our politicians?

# # # # #


INSPIRATIONAL: Ideas as sad little orphans

Monday, August 15, 2011

http://the99percent.com/videos/7066/Starlee-Kine-Fear-Heartbreak-and-Making-It-Happen-Against-All-Odds

Starlee Kine: Fear, Heartbreak, and Making It Happen Against All Odds

# – # – #

Twenty minutes, but very interesting. A motivator.

A good label for ideas — Little Orphan Annie — Tomorrow.

I’ve blogged about “you are what you sing”; this lady reenforces the idea.

Overly dramatic about her breakup? I don’t think so. It’s a terrible thing to lose your soul mate.

Like the Biblical story of Adam’s rib, it that completion.

And, what does one do?

Haven’t figured that out yet. I wonder if I ever will?

# # # # #


INSPIRATIONAL: Celebrate Independence Day; bring ALL the girls and boys home

Monday, July 4, 2011

http://gimundo.com/videos/view/kids-unwrap-worlds-best-present/

Watch this video and see if you don’t agree. Then, tell your politicians and bureaucrats. Vote Ron Paul, the true peace candidate.

# # # # #

Credit to Gretchen Rubin for finding this video.

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2011/07/how-is-your-happiness-challenge-going-asking-again.html

*** begin quote ***

I loved this video of two children who unwrap a big gift — not knowing that their father, who just finished his deployment, is hidden in the box. One child bursts out crying, and I absolutely understand that emotion. Too much to take in.

*** end quote ***

I agree; to me, it spoke volumes.

# # # # #


INSPIRATIONAL: Would you trade me for a xxxxxxxxx who would live longer?”.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

http://thomsinger.blogspot.com/2011/06/would-you-trade-me.html

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011
Would You Trade Me?

*** begin quote ***

I was a teenager when my mother fought cancer. As she lay dying I was understandably upset. She squeezed my hand and pulled me close. She whispered in my ear. “Would you trade me?”. I did not understand the question, so she asked, “Would you trade me for a mother who would live longer?”.

*** and ***

If you cannot change a bad situation, do not let it define you.

*** end quote ***

As Perry Mason would say “Objection. The question assumes facts not yet in evidence.”

Nor would there ever be any evidence.

Can’t rewind the VCR. No redos like Groundhog Day. No way to know.

I can empathize with the question.

The answer is “Of course not”. Because even if you wanted to, you can’t. So why waste your time, attention, and effort to make yourself even more unhappy.

My advice is: “Make a decision and hang on for the ride.”

Mine was a hell of a ride. Too short. But there are no guarantees when you buy your ticket to ride.

Argh!

# # # # #


INSPIRATIONAL: TV increases chances of dying before 65

Friday, June 17, 2011

http://www.impactlab.net/2011/06/15/two-hours-of-tv-a-day-increases-chances-of-dying-before-65/

June 15th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Two hours of TV a day increases chances of dying before 65

*** begin quote ***

The activity – or rather the inactivity – raises the odds of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, say scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health in the US.

They believe television compromises health in two ways.

Firstly, it gets in the way of more healthy pastimes – those that involve physical movement.

Secondly, people tend to consume more junk food and drink while viewing.

*** end quote ***

Hmmm, will I make it?

# # # # #