INSPIRATIONAL: Swift’s date too sick to go

Sunday, April 1, 2012

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2012-03-31/taylor-swift-date/53914560/1

Cancer-stricken N.J. teen to miss date with Taylor Swift
By Steve Wood, (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post
Updated 1h 48m ago

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CHERRY HILL, N.J. – In his second bout with cancer, 18-year-old Kevin McGuire won over the Internet and Taylor Swift.

Now the fickle fight will keep the high school senior from Stratford, N.J., from accompanying the superstar to Sunday night’s Academy of Country Music Awards.

Hours after being in “great spirits” Thursday, and a day before his planned departure to Las Vegas for the show, McGuire was dealt a 103-degree fever and taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, according to his mother, Vicki McGuire.

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I can’t think of a more polite way to say: “Boy, does that suck.”

Hope he gets a replacement date from Ms. Swift. (I’d expect so since she’s one sharp kookie.)

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FUN: NOT! But, I couldn’t think of a better category

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

http://musingsofafemalecollegestudent.blogspot.com/2012/03/break-up-story.html?showComment=1331720096027#c8170342234057661725

Monday, March 12, 2012
The Break-Up Story

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Sometimes, I get tired of love stories. So here’s the story of how my ex and I broke up.It was Saturday, March 12th, 2011, and I remember because it was the first official day of Spring break. I was a sophomore in college at that time, and I had just begun a recovery process that was going to take about a year to come to fruition.

I was recovering from over 4 months of ulcers and IBS, which played a part in me getting panic disorder a few weeks after I started the spring semester. It had gotten to a point where I had to go on medication, and a week after I started taking meds was Valentine’s Day. My ex and I were in a long distance relationship, so he sent me a card in the mail saying how he would support me during this hard time, and how he would be there for me.

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Wonder how I’d have felt if I’d lost my soul mate. Kinda like a feel now. I’m sure that a God who’s all good would not let that happen (i.e., you never meet that soul mate).

“You can’t be afraid. It’s not right to be afraid. It’s as if you don’t trust the Lord with our lives. I’m not a big Bible Banger, but it seems rude to joggle God’s elbow. Like a little kid, who has no concept of what is happening.” — character “John” in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 206

“My love, were it in my power, I would sadly grant thee this boon. But, we have to continue to follow His Plan for us. Let’s go forth and speak no more of this. Who ever is last will be last. It will be His choice; not ours. We’re but humble custodians of His temple on earth. It’s not our place to trump His plan. Whatever that plan be, know that I will be with you to my last breath.” — character “John” in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 399

My soul mate passed on about a year ago. So, I can somewhat empathize with what your feeling.

All I can say is, that like I’m doing, is to pick up your burden — if I was a better Catholic, I’d say “cross” — and move on.

Not easy. I use a lot of music by Taylor Swift — stop laugh at a poor fat old white guy injineer — which I find strangely empathetic to my life.

Hope I made you laugh!

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FUN: A Hug From Taylor Swift (Revision 2.0)

Monday, March 19, 2012

A Hug From Taylor Swift Part 1

http://youtu.be/zEalFT3KM_k

A Hug From Taylor Swift Part 2

http://youtu.be/ws6OW4VtiV0

A Hug From Taylor Swift Part 3

http://youtu.be/E2mVJW6PpgQ

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Learnings from the Taylor Swift’s Auburn video

1) YouTube and Verizon have issues

Watching a YouTube video is a mess. You can figure out what the technical dimension the problem is. Users don’t have access to the diags necessary to tell where or what the problem really is. What’s worse one always has to be suspicious that either or both have their “thumb” on the scale. Verizon to sell FIOS or 4G. YouTube to extract payment from the ISPs.

2) YouTube software

Try resetting a video to someplace other than the beginning. Doesn’t work for me. But shouldn’t it DL the file to you so you can play it over and over. You shouldn’t need a utility or another site to collect it for you. Plus why can’t we have one open standard for video.

3) Assumption

You have to admire the innovation of these two Auburn guys, and one webmaster, for their ability to capture the essence of the inet and social media. Taylor Swift gets kudos for finding them, challenging them, and making the event. Of course, if I made 35M$ last year, I’d take a chance. Maybe not! It could have been a bust. So there was some risk in it for her. She could have been playing to an empty house. Not very likely. She could have leaked it to her fan base minutes before and I’m sure the tweens and teens would have packed the joint. I know I’d have gone. Everyone won. They got their hug; she got the buzz.

4) Make it happen

You have to admire these fellow’s ability to “instantiate” their vision. The Eastern philosophies always suggest that vision precedes actuality. These fellows demonstrated that principle. Or is it a meme? You have to visualize the end and the Universe will “make it so”. To steal a Star Trek line.

5) Noblese oblige

Taylor Swift exemplifies this meme. She could have, but never has, sat in her tour bus and counted her pennies. How to say one of her CPAs wasn’t doing this for her ( i.e.: “Taylor, do realize what this is going to cost you?” “So, how much is five million hits on YouTube worth in terms of paid downloads?”)? She seems propelled by human emotion. But buzz does translate to dollars, so she can be ‘frisky’. Knowing that the “buzz” is worth gazillions. That doesn’t diminish her. She really is an icon.

6) Fun

You have to be “hard hearted” not to enjoy the serendipity of the whole scenario. Other than a “young girl skirt” around some rowdy college students, one would be hard pressed to find a flaw in the whole video. Marginally, one can feel bad for the campus and her security people who had to make her safe. You can see the expressions on their faces that they were not happy on what should have been a sleepy afternoon. You have to wonder how the many folks who were “locked out” felt? Sorry, but I always look at the silent majority feels. I’d have been the 350+1!

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I’m told the skirt is not that short. Guess it’s my Catholic school upbringing when the girls would roll down for school and roll up for dismissal.

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FUN: A Hug From Taylor Swift

Sunday, March 18, 2012

A Hug From Taylor Swift Part 1

http://youtu.be/zEalFT3KM_k

A Hug From Taylor Swift Part 2

http://youtu.be/ws6OW4VtiV0

A Hug From Taylor Swift Part 3

http://youtu.be/E2mVJW6PpgQ

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There is so much to learn from this whole “thing”; it’s stunning.

Biggest thing is that Taylor Swift has a natural sense of “playfulness”. For a super star to play along with the gag is impressive. I’m sure that her marketing people thought of this as a marketing bonanza.

It demonstrates that principle of intention. That is that everything begins with an intention.

Clearly, they never knew how it was going to work out, but they defined the end state and pursued it.

The joy of both the guys and the star. It’s obvious and palpable.

Leaders create their reality.

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INTERESTING: I pledge $100 donation to the charity of her choice … …

Thursday, March 8, 2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/taylor-swifts-bikini-australia-photo_n_1323914.html

It’s well know that I have a tremendous amount of respect for Taylor Swift. I’m not some dirty old man; just old. I think she’s got a lot of attributes worth emulating. The recent bikini picture upset me. Not for the suit or that it’s on the net, but she looks anorexic.

So, I pledge $100 donation to the charity of her choice for her to gain ten pounds.

I’ll even take a picture of her eating fast food. (If you listen to the “food police”, that will make you instantly fat.)

You look at pictures of her from 2004 to today and you can see the girl get thinner by the year.

Now she looks like a death camp inmate.

So, I hope she can “plump” up a little. She doesn’t have to become a heifer. Just make it back a few pounds.

Think of all those young girls with body image issues.

Hope her Mom speaks to her frankly.

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