SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits. This is one of four motivational quotations for Day #334.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Play, but be cautious in the time spent at play.
SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits. This is one of four motivational quotations for Day #334.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
And Then Some News
Thursday's Essay Preview
The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Review of the Speech, 'Sticky Ideas,'" reads as follows:
(There is an important caveat to this review of the speech, “Sticky
Ideas.” This is my own speech that I am reviewing. (I have never done
this before!) I conceived the idea; I constructed the speech; I
delivered the speech. To be certain, I am biased. This review was
written on the day I saw the speech published in the book Public
Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 8e by Steven A. And Susan J.
Beebe (Allyn & Bacon, 2012, pp. 410-414). I had not read the
speech for four years and, it was my re-reading of it after four years
that prompted this review/essay.)
Ask yourself the
question, after hearing (or reading) a speech, and knowing that you were
impressed by it, what is the ingredient or element that contributed
most to that impression? In some cases, of course, it is how the speech
was delivered. Often, delivery dominates people’s impressions because,
first, it is obvious, and, second, because we judge others on how they
look and behave.
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay
The language of the speech is colloquial
with no special jargon, literary flourishes, or complexities. It was
delivered from a manuscript; however, I knew (and had practiced) the
material thoroughly; thus, I delivered it without depending on the
manuscript much at all, in an extemporaneous manner. It took about
25-30 minutes to deliver the speech, and several questions from the
audience of about 50, followed.
*This speech (“Sticky Ideas: Low-Tech Solutions to a High-Tech Problem,”) was originally published in Vital Speeches of the Day (1 August 2007): 73:8.
And Then Some News
Monday, October 29, 2012
Book 1: Stand and deliver: How to become a masterful communicator and public speaker and Book 2: Make yourself unforgettable: How to become the person everyone remembers and no one can resist
Book 1: Stand and deliver: How to become a masterful communicator and public speaker
Book 2: Make yourself unforgettable: How to become the person everyone remembers and no one can resist
By Dale Carnegie
Book reviews by Richard L. Weaver II
The Dale Carnegie books were available (and popular) when I was a student in college. I never thought much about them until I became a speech-communication major. They were easy targets of disdain at that time; after all, we were gaining a college education in the very topics Carnegie addressed. Besides, people were quick to point out, his books carried no footnotes, references, or bibliography and were often perceived to be “a pedestrian approach to communication.” Once again, in college you get the sources for the ideas you espouse, therefore, it is thought, the ideas are of “higher quality” because they can be supported with credible references. Whether you accept this idea or not is irrelevant; the only point I am making here is that as a young college student, I knew of these books but never took them seriously.
Both books appear like first-time editions with a 2011 copyright date and no acknowledgment of previous editions. In the introduction, those who put together this book excuse the use of old examples in this way: “Stand and Deliver frequently draws on incidents and personalities from the not-too-recent past. True, events such as the first Kennedy-Nixon debate have been discussed before. But it would be a mistake to turn away from one of the all-time best examples of public speaking issues just for the sake of the calendar” (p. x). The quotations/examples used throughout the book wreak of old age: Earl Nightingale, Harold Macmillan, Winston Churchill, Andrew Carnegie, Theodore Roosevelt, William James, W. Clement Stone, Henry Ford, Edwin Land, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, J. Pierpont Morgan, Carl Sagan, and Woodrow Wilson, to name a few. Sports personalities cited include Knute Rockne, Lou Gehrig, and Vince Lombardi among others. That said, the book has been updated and includes, too, more recent examples.
The nuts and bolts of public speaking, if that is what you are looking for, are presented in the book Public Speaking Rules! All You Need for a GREAT speech! which offers the basic essentials in an easy-to-read 170 pages.
If you are looking for a straightforward advice book about public speaking with numerous quotations and supporting examples, Stand and Deliver delivers the goods. It is cogent, accurate, and reads quickly and easily. For each chapter there are three quotations on a page followed by a blank page. The quotations are interesting but not necessary, and their elimination would reduce the size of this 240-page book by at least 20 pages.
Make Yourself Unforgettable is a much denser book than Stand and Deliver. Many of the examples/quotations still wreak of old age, and the advice contained is a great deal of common sense. The advice is competent; however, reading 224 pages of fairly dense text about relationships and self-presentation may be too much for some people.
The information in the book Relationship Rules: For Long-term Happiness, Security, and Commitment can have the same satisfying results; however, this book is easier to read, digest, and understand—and the information contained here isn’t as dense as Carnegie’s.
For over twenty years I wrote a college textbook, Understanding Interpersonal Communication, 7th ed. (HarperCollins) which covered much of the same information as that in Carnegie’s Make Yourself Unforgettable, and I have to say that his material is accurate, interesting, and useful.
I thought his advice on self-improvement is priceless: “Investment in yourself is absolutely the best investment you can make for securing your future. Yes, it takes some of your free time and energy, and you will have to prioritize. But you’ll meet new people, you’ll make new friends, and you’ll learn something. It’s an excellent bargain” (p. 191).
These books deserve re-publication in this new form. The information and advice is timeless and valuable. Any book that is specifically designed to help people better themselves, understand others, and make a valuable contribution to community and society merits attention.
Friday, October 26, 2012
LAUGH . . . And Then Some!
A fellow bought a new Mercedes and was out on an interstate road for a nice evening drive.
The top was down, the breeze was blowing through his hair and he decided to open her up. As the needle jumped up to 80mph he suddenly saw a flashing red and blue light behind him.
"There ain't no way they can catch a Mercedes," he thought to himself and opened her up further. The needle hit 90, 100 110 and finally 120 with the lights still behind him.
"What in hell am I doing?" he thought and pulled over.
The cop came up to him, took his license without a word and examined it and the car.
"I've had a tough shift and this is my last pull over. I don't
feel like more paperwork so if you can give me an excuse for your driving that I haven't heard before you can go!"
"Last week my wife ran off with a cop," the man said, "and I was afraid you were trying to give her back!"
"Have a nice night," said the officer.
From Day #102 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
The top was down, the breeze was blowing through his hair and he decided to open her up. As the needle jumped up to 80mph he suddenly saw a flashing red and blue light behind him.
"There ain't no way they can catch a Mercedes," he thought to himself and opened her up further. The needle hit 90, 100 110 and finally 120 with the lights still behind him.
"What in hell am I doing?" he thought and pulled over.
The cop came up to him, took his license without a word and examined it and the car.
"I've had a tough shift and this is my last pull over. I don't
feel like more paperwork so if you can give me an excuse for your driving that I haven't heard before you can go!"
"Last week my wife ran off with a cop," the man said, "and I was afraid you were trying to give her back!"
"Have a nice night," said the officer.
Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet, Volume 2
From Day #102 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Thursday, October 25, 2012
There is so much pettiness in this world
by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
As I looked at the political picture in the U.S. today, I thought of a quotation by Margaret J. Wheatley that so accurately captured the situation: “In our daily life,” she wrote, “we encounter people who are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together.” It's embarrassing to admit that we harbor pettiness in our lives, but the fact is that most of us do.
Throughout my college-teaching career, I tried to combat pettiness. For example, it is common knowledge (and frequently illustrated) that we tell books by their covers. And, too, we often judge a speaker more by his or her delivery than by the substance of the speech. As much as I would list and thoroughly discuss each of the essential elements — outside of the area of delivery — and emphasize the importance of making decisions of worth based on content, one could never dismiss (and should not!) the role that delivery plays in a speech performance. But when one weighs one against the other (content versus delivery), the problem is simply that delivery often weighs in at 90-100% of the judgment.
I guess it can’t be helped. Our whole society seems consumed by pettiness. When celebrity glamor rules the media and people spend their time watching reality shows and the silly antics of people testing their “skills” for a camera, it appears inevitable that pettiness would dominate. Look at the preoccupations of many of the youth today. Spending time playing games or texting others reveals a great deal of pettiness and demonstrates how it dominates our lives. And this youthful model is what sets the stage for a lifetime of pettiness.
Pettiness occurs at all levels of our society. Look at this quotation from the Chronicle of Higher Education , (August 26, 2009) from an article, “On Hiring: Searching for Pettiness,” by Gene C. Fant Jr.: “Obviously, there are professional parameters for business communications, especially in searches, but my point is really that there is a certain level of pettiness that can creep into the selection process, especially when applicants are very numerous. At previous institutions and in my professional network, I’ve heard no’s generated by paper-weight choices (‘lightweight paper makes for lightweight applicants’), by conference-presentation titles (“if it has a colon in it, it must be full of feces”), and even by names (‘I couldn’t work with someone with a name that close to a person from my past whom I hate’).”
I ask you now, aren’t these the most petty reasons for rejecting a candidate?
When I listen to my 98-year-old father-in-law and hear some of the reasons why he holds a grudge against a popular television newsreader, doesn’t like a particular politician, or fails to appreciate an actor or actress because of a “fatal [petty] flaw.” I realize how pettiness can reside in people forever. The French writer Andre Maurois said, “Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.”
You might think this essay on pettiness would offer readers ways to overcome it, suggestions for dealing with it, or steps to take to reduce it. No, I don’t think it can be helped. We are a petty society led by petty politicians, petty news media, and an entire entertainment industry that caters to, dotes on, and proclaims pettiness through its reports, programs, and productions. How in the world could all of that be reduced or made manageable?
I think the most important consideration of all is simply to understand it. Whether we like it or not, other people will be petty. So often, understanding it helps put it into perspective: “Oh, that’s Edgar being petty again.” You hear it; you understand it; you accept it; and you dismiss it.
Nobody wants to be petty, but everyone is.
There are, it’s true, several ways each of us has to try to control (rein in!) our own pettiness. For example, I thought this quotation from the website, inspiration-for-singles.com is especially poignant and carries a great deal of wisdom: “When small-mindedness creeps into our lives, it's usually a gradual process. Overcoming it is a gradual process, too. I've found that building and maintaining my self-esteem is a lifelong job. When I battle pettiness in myself, I try to remember the Golden Rule: I don't like it when people are nasty to me, so I shouldn't be nasty to others.
“It's a challenge to be pleasant and cheerful when you don't feel well or when you've just suffered some tragedy or defeat in your life. But it's always wise to think very carefully before you lash out.”
I have discovered an amazing elixir — a potion intended to cure one's pettiness — and that is work. That is, I have found that when I pour myself into my work with focus, deep penetration, and perseverance, I do not have the time, interest, or need to be petty. And, although this is certainly not universally true, pettiness is for lightweights — the unintellectual, undemanding, insubstantial, shallow people. You see, I use such an internal pronouncement — knowing that it is not universally true! — to convince myself I do not qualify to be among those who want to be petty. It helps keep me above the fray, and when I dip down, as a bird diving to retrieve an insect, I remind myself of this pronouncement, and it helps me regain altitude.
Along with this pronouncement, I have discovered, too, compassion. Petty people are unlikely to change — ever! And although it is tough at times, I have the need to summon the courage to respond to pettiness and petty people with its antidote — compassion. I try to find ways to wish them good will, or, as is more often the case, to avoid them altogether.
“Those who occupy their minds with small matters,” said Francois de La Rochefoucauld, “generally become incapable of greatness.” Although I am not seeking greatness, nor will I ever, such a quote offers some sanity in this world of pettiness. I don’t get involved with it, I don’t try to change others, and I don’t lower myself to their level. If you see pettiness of any kind, do as I do, smile, understand it, appreciate it for the pettiness that it is, and go on with your life. It was Winston Churchill who said, “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”
- - - - - - -
At the website, EzineArticles.com, the essay by Michael Arthur Moore, “Mean Spirited and Petty People - How to Deal With Them Effectively,” at least five specific suggestions. This essay is definitely worth reading. His final paragraph reads: “Happiness is up to each and every one of us. We control our surroundings for the most part. Taking personal responsibility for your actions is the road to happiness.”
The essay, “How to deal with difficult people,” at SelfGrowth.com offers seven terrific suggestions. After making her suggestions, Brenda concludes her essay saying: “Without a doubt, there will be difficult people who appear upon your path. It is your choice how you wish to deal with them. Hopefully, I have provided a guide to help you make choices that work for you.”
- - - - - - - - -
Copyright October, 2012, by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
As I looked at the political picture in the U.S. today, I thought of a quotation by Margaret J. Wheatley that so accurately captured the situation: “In our daily life,” she wrote, “we encounter people who are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together.” It's embarrassing to admit that we harbor pettiness in our lives, but the fact is that most of us do.
Throughout my college-teaching career, I tried to combat pettiness. For example, it is common knowledge (and frequently illustrated) that we tell books by their covers. And, too, we often judge a speaker more by his or her delivery than by the substance of the speech. As much as I would list and thoroughly discuss each of the essential elements — outside of the area of delivery — and emphasize the importance of making decisions of worth based on content, one could never dismiss (and should not!) the role that delivery plays in a speech performance. But when one weighs one against the other (content versus delivery), the problem is simply that delivery often weighs in at 90-100% of the judgment.
I guess it can’t be helped. Our whole society seems consumed by pettiness. When celebrity glamor rules the media and people spend their time watching reality shows and the silly antics of people testing their “skills” for a camera, it appears inevitable that pettiness would dominate. Look at the preoccupations of many of the youth today. Spending time playing games or texting others reveals a great deal of pettiness and demonstrates how it dominates our lives. And this youthful model is what sets the stage for a lifetime of pettiness.
Pettiness occurs at all levels of our society. Look at this quotation from the Chronicle of Higher Education , (August 26, 2009) from an article, “On Hiring: Searching for Pettiness,” by Gene C. Fant Jr.: “Obviously, there are professional parameters for business communications, especially in searches, but my point is really that there is a certain level of pettiness that can creep into the selection process, especially when applicants are very numerous. At previous institutions and in my professional network, I’ve heard no’s generated by paper-weight choices (‘lightweight paper makes for lightweight applicants’), by conference-presentation titles (“if it has a colon in it, it must be full of feces”), and even by names (‘I couldn’t work with someone with a name that close to a person from my past whom I hate’).”
I ask you now, aren’t these the most petty reasons for rejecting a candidate?
When I listen to my 98-year-old father-in-law and hear some of the reasons why he holds a grudge against a popular television newsreader, doesn’t like a particular politician, or fails to appreciate an actor or actress because of a “fatal [petty] flaw.” I realize how pettiness can reside in people forever. The French writer Andre Maurois said, “Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.”
You might think this essay on pettiness would offer readers ways to overcome it, suggestions for dealing with it, or steps to take to reduce it. No, I don’t think it can be helped. We are a petty society led by petty politicians, petty news media, and an entire entertainment industry that caters to, dotes on, and proclaims pettiness through its reports, programs, and productions. How in the world could all of that be reduced or made manageable?
I think the most important consideration of all is simply to understand it. Whether we like it or not, other people will be petty. So often, understanding it helps put it into perspective: “Oh, that’s Edgar being petty again.” You hear it; you understand it; you accept it; and you dismiss it.
Nobody wants to be petty, but everyone is.
There are, it’s true, several ways each of us has to try to control (rein in!) our own pettiness. For example, I thought this quotation from the website, inspiration-for-singles.com is especially poignant and carries a great deal of wisdom: “When small-mindedness creeps into our lives, it's usually a gradual process. Overcoming it is a gradual process, too. I've found that building and maintaining my self-esteem is a lifelong job. When I battle pettiness in myself, I try to remember the Golden Rule: I don't like it when people are nasty to me, so I shouldn't be nasty to others.
“It's a challenge to be pleasant and cheerful when you don't feel well or when you've just suffered some tragedy or defeat in your life. But it's always wise to think very carefully before you lash out.”
I have discovered an amazing elixir — a potion intended to cure one's pettiness — and that is work. That is, I have found that when I pour myself into my work with focus, deep penetration, and perseverance, I do not have the time, interest, or need to be petty. And, although this is certainly not universally true, pettiness is for lightweights — the unintellectual, undemanding, insubstantial, shallow people. You see, I use such an internal pronouncement — knowing that it is not universally true! — to convince myself I do not qualify to be among those who want to be petty. It helps keep me above the fray, and when I dip down, as a bird diving to retrieve an insect, I remind myself of this pronouncement, and it helps me regain altitude.
Along with this pronouncement, I have discovered, too, compassion. Petty people are unlikely to change — ever! And although it is tough at times, I have the need to summon the courage to respond to pettiness and petty people with its antidote — compassion. I try to find ways to wish them good will, or, as is more often the case, to avoid them altogether.
“Those who occupy their minds with small matters,” said Francois de La Rochefoucauld, “generally become incapable of greatness.” Although I am not seeking greatness, nor will I ever, such a quote offers some sanity in this world of pettiness. I don’t get involved with it, I don’t try to change others, and I don’t lower myself to their level. If you see pettiness of any kind, do as I do, smile, understand it, appreciate it for the pettiness that it is, and go on with your life. It was Winston Churchill who said, “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”
- - - - - - -
At the website, EzineArticles.com, the essay by Michael Arthur Moore, “Mean Spirited and Petty People - How to Deal With Them Effectively,” at least five specific suggestions. This essay is definitely worth reading. His final paragraph reads: “Happiness is up to each and every one of us. We control our surroundings for the most part. Taking personal responsibility for your actions is the road to happiness.”
The essay, “How to deal with difficult people,” at SelfGrowth.com offers seven terrific suggestions. After making her suggestions, Brenda concludes her essay saying: “Without a doubt, there will be difficult people who appear upon your path. It is your choice how you wish to deal with them. Hopefully, I have provided a guide to help you make choices that work for you.”
- - - - - - - - -
Copyright October, 2012, by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Give up your selfishness.
SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits. This is one of four motivational quotations for Day #333.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
And Then Some News
Thursday's Essay Preview
The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "There is So Much Pettiness in the World, " reads as follows:
As I looked at the political picture in the U.S. today, I thought of a quotation by Margaret J. Wheatley that so accurately captured the situation: “In our daily life,” she wrote, “we encounter people who are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together.” It's embarrassing to admit that we harbor pettiness in our lives, but the fact is that most of us do.
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay
“Those who occupy their minds with small matters,” said Francois de La Rochefoucauld, “generally become incapable of greatness.” Although I am not seeking greatness, nor will I ever, such a quote offers some sanity in this world of pettiness. I don’t get involved with it, I don’t try to change others, and I don’t lower myself to their level. If you see pettiness of any kind, do as I do, smile, understand it, appreciate it for the pettiness that it is, and go on with your life. It was Winston Churchill who said, “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”
And Then Some News
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Amish Way: Patient faith in a perilous world
The Amish Way: Patient faith in a perilous world
By Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II
The authors (each with a Ph.D. and professors at various colleges) are great writers and researchers and have a deep understanding and appreciation of Amish life and ways. There are 14 pages of notes and 6 pages of references.
I found several things appealing in this book. The first thing, the authors talk about in the preface: “We talked with a host of Amish people in the course of writing this book, and we quote many of them in the following pages” (p. xv). These quotations offer in-depth insights, revealing windows into Amish feelings and experiences, and an amazing reading experience.
The second thing I found appealing is how the authors emphasized throughout the book how Amish spirituality gives all members of their community “a framework for making decisions about marriage, family, work, and play—indeed, a framework that helps them face all the pleasures and uncertainties that human life entails” (p. xiii). I find the power of their spirituality fascinating.
The third thing is the influence/domination of community. A good example of community is explained on page 33: “A mother knows that if she is hospitalized, her congregation will help pay the bills, care for her children, and do the household chores until she recovers. The local church swings into action with meals and moral support after any sort of misfortune, from a catastrophic barn fire to a broken arm” (p. 33).
Perhaps one of the most astounding ideas is how they reject anything that smacks of activism. Not only do the Amish not concern themselves with world affairs, they do nothing (ever!) to try to change the world. It is not the Amish way. (Some might appreciate this approach and this simplicity. I do not.)
There is a great deal of information packed into this 192 pages of text material. There are three appendices, and in addition to the notes and references, there is a complete18-page index. With a tight organization plan, the book reads easily—especially because there are so many examples, and the sections within each chapter are short, vivid, revealing, and to the point.
Having directed a master’s thesis on the Amish in Ohio, I already had a good background of and interest in this topic; however, that being said, I found a great deal of new information in this book. Of all the books on the Amish I have read, this is by far the best of the bunch.
Whether you have an interest in the Amish or not, this book offers wonderful insights into one of America’s most interesting co-cultures and a truly American phenomenon. If you are simply looking for a great book that is entertaining, informative, and engaging, this is a fabulous choice. Five stars!
By Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II
The authors (each with a Ph.D. and professors at various colleges) are great writers and researchers and have a deep understanding and appreciation of Amish life and ways. There are 14 pages of notes and 6 pages of references.
I found several things appealing in this book. The first thing, the authors talk about in the preface: “We talked with a host of Amish people in the course of writing this book, and we quote many of them in the following pages” (p. xv). These quotations offer in-depth insights, revealing windows into Amish feelings and experiences, and an amazing reading experience.
The second thing I found appealing is how the authors emphasized throughout the book how Amish spirituality gives all members of their community “a framework for making decisions about marriage, family, work, and play—indeed, a framework that helps them face all the pleasures and uncertainties that human life entails” (p. xiii). I find the power of their spirituality fascinating.
The third thing is the influence/domination of community. A good example of community is explained on page 33: “A mother knows that if she is hospitalized, her congregation will help pay the bills, care for her children, and do the household chores until she recovers. The local church swings into action with meals and moral support after any sort of misfortune, from a catastrophic barn fire to a broken arm” (p. 33).
Perhaps one of the most astounding ideas is how they reject anything that smacks of activism. Not only do the Amish not concern themselves with world affairs, they do nothing (ever!) to try to change the world. It is not the Amish way. (Some might appreciate this approach and this simplicity. I do not.)
There is a great deal of information packed into this 192 pages of text material. There are three appendices, and in addition to the notes and references, there is a complete18-page index. With a tight organization plan, the book reads easily—especially because there are so many examples, and the sections within each chapter are short, vivid, revealing, and to the point.
Having directed a master’s thesis on the Amish in Ohio, I already had a good background of and interest in this topic; however, that being said, I found a great deal of new information in this book. Of all the books on the Amish I have read, this is by far the best of the bunch.
Whether you have an interest in the Amish or not, this book offers wonderful insights into one of America’s most interesting co-cultures and a truly American phenomenon. If you are simply looking for a great book that is entertaining, informative, and engaging, this is a fabulous choice. Five stars!
Friday, October 19, 2012
LAUGH . . . And Then Some!
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
I know I got a lot of exercise. The last few years,......
Just getting over the hill..
We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Every time I start thinking too much
About how I look, I just find a Happy Hour
And by the time I leave, I look just fine.
From Day #100 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
I know I got a lot of exercise. The last few years,......
Just getting over the hill..
We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Every time I start thinking too much
About how I look, I just find a Happy Hour
And by the time I leave, I look just fine.
Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet, Volume 2
From Day #100 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Thursday, October 18, 2012
When I cook popcorn on the stove (Heart-healthy habits)
by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
It was an essay by Nanci Hellmich in the “Your Life” section of USA Today (March
15, 2011, pg. 3D), titled, “Doctor’s orders for himself: Even for a
neurologist, adopting heart-healthy habits is a challenge,” that
prompted this essay, and if the doctor’s [Ralph Sacco, president of the
American Heart Association, a neurologist and chairman of the department
of neurology at Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami]
habits contribute to anyone else’s change of behaviors, then this essay
has made a significant contribution. Hellmich’s essay, obviously, had a
powerful influence on me.What specifically prompted me to write this essay is how closely my daily habits mirror Sacco’s habits. It is always refreshing to find an essay like this that reinforces all that one does, and continues to do, to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I agree with Sacco. “He knows he needs to maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, keep his salt and sugar intake in check and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as seafood,” writes Hellmich. It is a daily regimen that I follow religiously, and one of the common problems is that it is easy to give lip-service to these procedures, or to follow them only when being watched or observed, but actually taking action on them and being persistent and consistent is the challenge that is part of the subtitle of this essay.
Although Sacco admits to falling short of living a perfect heart-healthy life, he says that, at the age of 53, he is doing his best.
Just as Sacco, I have a family history of heart disease — fortunately, no strokes of which I am aware. My father died suddenly, without warning, of a heart attack. Although he was diabetic, the diabeties was not severe. Sacco’s situation was worse with a mother and grandmother dying of heart disease and a grandfather having of a stroke.
“Sacco’s blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar are a little too high,” writes Hellmich, and to “reduce his risk of heart attack or stroke, he is trying to” do the very same things that I do on a regular basis.
Sacco’s weight, for his 5-foot-6-frame was reduced from 187 to 170 pounds. My weight was never in the mid-eighties, but for my 5-foot-9 1/2-frame, I try to maintain my weight at 170-175 pounds — just about 10 pounds over what it was when I graduated from college. The key, I have found, is in self-control. I just have to say “No” to things that will put on weight.
Sacco exercises regularly as I do. The heart association’s physical activity guidelines, writes Hellmich, are “at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity each week.” Whereas Sacco admits, “I wasn’t as religious about exercise as I should have been,” I have been religious. I do 270 minutes each week of strength-building and body toning before doing approximately 180 minutes each week of jogging (vigorous intensity), and I’ve been doing it for over 30 years.
Sacco loves fruits and vegetables as I do, and I meet the daily recommendation of four to six cups on a daily basis. I try to have at least 10 different fresh fruits and vegetables for lunch in addition to orange juice and half-a-banana at breakfast and at least one vegetable (usually two) for dinner.
Sacco’s goal “is to have two or more servings (about 3 ½ ounces each) of fish a week,” writes Hellmich. My wife and I have fish at least once a week — usually on Wednesdays when she gets it fresh from the supermarket on her shopping day. (Seniors receive a 5% discount on groceries every Wednesday).
Also, just like Sacco, I use olive oil, avoid butter, stick margarine, and any other hard fats. For grilling a sandwich, I use Benecol (“[it] is the only range of foods to contain Plant Stanol Ester, a unique cholesterol lowering ingredient”) accompany my single beer in the evening), I use only canola oil and just a small amount of popcorn salt when I cook my popcorn over the stove. Otherwise, I use no salt or sugar of any kind at any time.
Sacco, just as I do on a regular basis, “doesn’t add any salt to his food or use it when cooking, but he knows,” writes Hellmich, “most sodium comes from processed foods, and he does eat some of those.” The problem Sacco has, like the problems most Americans have today, is that he “eats out a lot, and you often ‘can’t control what the cook is putting on your dinner.’”
“Although [Sacco] tries to consume below 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day, the amount recommended by his group, he doesn’t believe he’s meeting that goal,” writes Hellmich.
Sacco, writes Hellmich, is “trying to reduce his sugar intake by cutting back on desserts and having fruit instead. The heart association,” she continues, “says that a high intake of added sugars increases the risk of obesity, high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.” What I have done is to drink my coffee black, have just a cookie or two at lunch, and have no dessert for dinner at all. I drink no soft drinks on a regular basis, whether sugared, diet, or zero calories. The way to avoid sugar is fairly easy — don’t just cut back on desserts, but avoid them altogether, and stop putting additional sugar on cereal, in coffee, or in anything else.
Finally, Sacco, takes some supplements and medications. Just as I do, “[Sacco] takes a daily multivitamin that has omega-3 fatty acids in it. He takes,” Hellmich continues, “a low dose of a statin because his total cholesterol is 240 [close to what my cholesterol used to be], which is a bit too high, and because he has a family history of heart disease. His good cholesterol,” writes Hellmich, “is too low, so he has been considering taking a niacin supplement [just as I do]. “He also takes a baby aspirin daily to help prevent heart attacks. It’s advised,” Hellmich continues, “for people over age 50 with a family history of heart disease.” I take a baby aspirin daily.
This was Hellmich’s entire essay. There was nothing more. What was amazing to me, after I read her essay, was that I am currently doing (and have been doing for more than 30 years) all that I can do to prevent heart attacks and strokes — according to Sacco and what Hellmich has written. Sure, there is no guarantee just as there are no guarantees in life, but it certainly adds to your security, self-confidence, and composure knowing that you have adopted and are following heart-healthy habits.
- - - - - - - -
At the ehowHealth website there are nine suggestions offered in the essay, “How to develop heart-healthy habits.” Most of the suggestions (but not all of them!) are the same as those discussed in the essay above. “Learn to control stress,” and “stop smoking” are the two suggestions not mentioned above.
At WebMD, Dulce Zamora has written a fabulous essay, “13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life: Disregard them, and you may well be taking a big gamble with your mental and emotional well-being.” Her second paragraph reads: “Instead of bringing misfortune, however, the 13 habits promise a life of vigor and vivacity. There are, of course, no guarantees, but many of the practices mentioned here have been published in scientific journals. Disregard them, and you may well be taking a big gamble with your mental and emotional well-being.”
- - - - - - - -
Copyright October, 2012, by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Define precisely what you want, and get it done.
SMOERs: Words of Wisdom"I'm
a big believer in growth. Life is not about achievement, it's about
learning and growth, and developing qualities like compassion, patience,
perseverance, love, and joy, and so forth. And so if that is the case,
then I think our goals should include something which stretches us."
---Jack Canfield
Day #331 - Strive for growth, development, and change..
SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits. This is one of four motivational quotations for Day #331.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com
SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits. This is one of four motivational quotations for Day #331.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
And Then Some News
Thursday's Essay Preview
The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "When I Cook Popcorn Over the Stove (Heart-Healthy Habits), " reads as follows:
It was an essay by Nanci Hellmich in the “Your Life” section of USA Today (March 15, 2011, pg. 3D), titled, “Doctor’s orders for himself: Even for a neurologist, adopting heart-healthy habits is a challenge,” that prompted this essay, and if the doctor’s [Ralph Sacco, president of the American Heart Association, a neurologist and chairman of the department of neurology at Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami] habits contribute to anyone else’s change of behaviors, then this essay has made a significant contribution. Hellmich’s essay, obviously, had a powerful influence on me.
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay
This was Hellmich’s entire essay. There was nothing more. What was amazing to me, after I read her essay, was that I am currently doing (and have been doing for more than 30 years) all that I can do to prevent heart attacks and strokes — according to Sacco and what Hellmich has written. Sure, there is no guarantee just as there are no guarantees in life, but it certainly adds to your security, self-confidence, and composure knowing that you have adopted and are following heart-healthy habits.
And Then Some News
Monday, October 15, 2012
Blur: How to know what’s true in the age of information overload
Blur: How to know what’s true in the age of information overload
By Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II
Any book that seeks to assist readers in becoming more discriminating consumers, whatever the marketplace involved, should not just be commended, it should be welcomed, hailed, and widely read. This is certainly one of those books.
Over many years (over thirty now), I have been trying to encourage students (whether through lectures or textbooks) to critically analyze information from the Internet or material available via any media source. How successful I have been is always questionable, especially since people tend to believe that if it is in print or if it appears on an Internet site, it has credibility.
Their chapter titles clearly reveal their intent: 1) How to Know What to Believe Anymore, 2) We Have Been Here Before, 3) The Way of Skeptical Knowing The Tradecraft of Verification, 4) Completeness: What Is Here and What Is Missing? 5) Sources: Where Did This Come From? 6) Evidence and the Journalism of Verification, 7) Assertion, Affirmation: Where’s the Evidence? 8) How to Find What Really Matters, 9) What We Need from the “Next Journalism.” The Epilogue is entitled, “The New Way of Knowing.”
The authors of the book are both journalists with a great deal of experience, and they are clearly great writers. The narrative flows easily. Their numerous examples are interesting and engaging. Central to their thesis, are the questions they raise at the end of chapter 1: “How will we as citizens learn what is true? How will we find out what information we can trust in an age in which we are all our own experts and power has been ceded to everyone” (p. 11)? At the end of Chapter 2, they raise the question, “How so we identify, with our new tools and options, what information is reliable” (p. 25)? In Chapter 6, they ask: “How do we, as consumers, arrive at meaning in news? How well do we navigate the borders between fact and belief, between empiricism and our own preconceptions” (p. 115)?
Incidentally, I always enjoy the use of the scientific method as a way to develop discipline and sanity in testing hypotheses. In pages 116-119, the explanation is clear and precise—although I am skeptical that the average reader will understand all of its perameters or adopt the method in everyday life.
Unfortunately, the people who really need to read this book won’t, and I’m afraid that the predominant attitude regarding information that is printed (whether in newspapers, magazines, books, or on the Internet) is likely to be believed without analysis, question, or challenge. That, after all, is the status quo, and changing in any degree from what is known, accepted, and habitual is unlikely.
Just as speakers who deliver their ideas effectively (despite the worth, value, or ethical underpinning of the ideas themselves) tend to be believed without challenge, words in print often have the same effect. It would be great if it were otherwise, but it is not nor will it ever be.
At the end of Chapter 3, the authors delineate what I see as the major hurtle that must be overcome to increasing skepticism when it comes to information (especially that available on the Internet): “Identifying what you are reading is not simply a matter of buyer beware. You must learn to discriminate, to know what kind of journalism it represents, to discover the norms and motives lurking in the work—what the journalists are trying to do. It is the first step, but a critical one, in knowing what to trust. Once you have done this, then comes the work of knowing how to navigate, of walking the other steps of the skeptical way of knowing” (p. 56).
One thing the authors ought to consider is reducing the size (or focus) of this book to the process of verifying evidence. They already have all the information, and it could be condensed, organized effectively, and all the advice they provide and suggestions they offer, could then be sold (in a different package, of course) as a way to improve communication, increase citizen potency, and heighten information credibility—all to the benefit of a more responsible democracy. The problem of this book (for some readers) is that it is too long; there is too much information; and the needed advice, although obvious and available, may not have the effectiveness necessary. (I say this and yet enjoyed all the examples the authors supply that make this book illuminating.)
I especially loved Chapter 8, “How to Find What Really Matters,” for its practicality, directness, and sense. Their advice in answering the question, “Am I getting what I need from the news” (p. 165)? is spot on (pp. 165-169), and will make every reader a more capable consumer of news.
This is really an outstanding book that is incredibly enjoyable to read. The authors have done an outstanding job in delineating the problem and suggesting specific methods for solving it.
By Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II
Any book that seeks to assist readers in becoming more discriminating consumers, whatever the marketplace involved, should not just be commended, it should be welcomed, hailed, and widely read. This is certainly one of those books.
Over many years (over thirty now), I have been trying to encourage students (whether through lectures or textbooks) to critically analyze information from the Internet or material available via any media source. How successful I have been is always questionable, especially since people tend to believe that if it is in print or if it appears on an Internet site, it has credibility.
Their chapter titles clearly reveal their intent: 1) How to Know What to Believe Anymore, 2) We Have Been Here Before, 3) The Way of Skeptical Knowing The Tradecraft of Verification, 4) Completeness: What Is Here and What Is Missing? 5) Sources: Where Did This Come From? 6) Evidence and the Journalism of Verification, 7) Assertion, Affirmation: Where’s the Evidence? 8) How to Find What Really Matters, 9) What We Need from the “Next Journalism.” The Epilogue is entitled, “The New Way of Knowing.”
The authors of the book are both journalists with a great deal of experience, and they are clearly great writers. The narrative flows easily. Their numerous examples are interesting and engaging. Central to their thesis, are the questions they raise at the end of chapter 1: “How will we as citizens learn what is true? How will we find out what information we can trust in an age in which we are all our own experts and power has been ceded to everyone” (p. 11)? At the end of Chapter 2, they raise the question, “How so we identify, with our new tools and options, what information is reliable” (p. 25)? In Chapter 6, they ask: “How do we, as consumers, arrive at meaning in news? How well do we navigate the borders between fact and belief, between empiricism and our own preconceptions” (p. 115)?
Incidentally, I always enjoy the use of the scientific method as a way to develop discipline and sanity in testing hypotheses. In pages 116-119, the explanation is clear and precise—although I am skeptical that the average reader will understand all of its perameters or adopt the method in everyday life.
Unfortunately, the people who really need to read this book won’t, and I’m afraid that the predominant attitude regarding information that is printed (whether in newspapers, magazines, books, or on the Internet) is likely to be believed without analysis, question, or challenge. That, after all, is the status quo, and changing in any degree from what is known, accepted, and habitual is unlikely.
Just as speakers who deliver their ideas effectively (despite the worth, value, or ethical underpinning of the ideas themselves) tend to be believed without challenge, words in print often have the same effect. It would be great if it were otherwise, but it is not nor will it ever be.
At the end of Chapter 3, the authors delineate what I see as the major hurtle that must be overcome to increasing skepticism when it comes to information (especially that available on the Internet): “Identifying what you are reading is not simply a matter of buyer beware. You must learn to discriminate, to know what kind of journalism it represents, to discover the norms and motives lurking in the work—what the journalists are trying to do. It is the first step, but a critical one, in knowing what to trust. Once you have done this, then comes the work of knowing how to navigate, of walking the other steps of the skeptical way of knowing” (p. 56).
One thing the authors ought to consider is reducing the size (or focus) of this book to the process of verifying evidence. They already have all the information, and it could be condensed, organized effectively, and all the advice they provide and suggestions they offer, could then be sold (in a different package, of course) as a way to improve communication, increase citizen potency, and heighten information credibility—all to the benefit of a more responsible democracy. The problem of this book (for some readers) is that it is too long; there is too much information; and the needed advice, although obvious and available, may not have the effectiveness necessary. (I say this and yet enjoyed all the examples the authors supply that make this book illuminating.)
I especially loved Chapter 8, “How to Find What Really Matters,” for its practicality, directness, and sense. Their advice in answering the question, “Am I getting what I need from the news” (p. 165)? is spot on (pp. 165-169), and will make every reader a more capable consumer of news.
This is really an outstanding book that is incredibly enjoyable to read. The authors have done an outstanding job in delineating the problem and suggesting specific methods for solving it.
Friday, October 12, 2012
LAUGH . . . And Then Some!
Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms.
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.
I must say that I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a book.
I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it.
If I held you any closer I would be on the other side of you.
I must confess, I was born at a very early age.
I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.
From Day #99 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms.
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.
I must say that I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a book.
I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it.
If I held you any closer I would be on the other side of you.
I must confess, I was born at a very early age.
I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.
Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet, Volume 2
From Day #99 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Nag, nag, nag --- A humorous essay!
by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution.
His last minute plea for clemency to the governor had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed. As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about,
'What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? Dinner is cold and I'm not reheating it . . . . And on and on and on . . .
Too shattered to play his usual role in this familiar ritual, he poured himself a shot of whiskey and headed off for a long hot soak in the bathtub, pursued by the predictable sarcastic remarks as he dragged himself up the stairs.
While he was in the bath, the phone rang. The wife answered and was told that her husband's client, James Wright, had been granted a stay of execution after all. Wright would not be hanged tonight .
Finally realizing what a terrible day he must have had, she decided to go up stairs and give him the good news..
As she opened the bathroom door, she was greeted by the sight of her husband, bent over naked, drying his legs and feet. “They're not hanging Wright tonight,” she said.
He whirled around and screamed, “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN, DON'T YOU EVER STOP?”
It’s always a bit intriguing (for me!) to discover how I came upon a topic. That is, what even sparked an essay called “Nag, nag, nag . . . ?” In this case, the etymology is simple. I was exercising downstairs in our house before jogging. It was 4:30 a.m., and suddenly for the first time ever (I have bee exercising for well over 30 years!), my wife appeared in the stairwell to say that it was only 10-degrees outside, and the chill factor was -10. One of the things she said was, “Frostbite only takes 5 minutes.” She added, too, “Even your eyeballs can be frostbitten.” She knows that I am cautious; she knows that I will come back in if weather or road conditions are bad; she knows that I bundle-up well to protect myself from frostbite. Yes, in the back of my mind, an alarm went off: “Nag, nag, nag” I thought to myself.
An old hillbilly farmer had a wife who nagged him unmercifully. From morning til night (and sometimes later), she was always complaining about something. The only time he got any relief was when he was out plowing with his old mule. He tried to plow a lot.
One day, when he was out plowing, his wife brought him lunch in the field. He drove the old mule into the shade, sat down on a stump, and began to eat his lunch. Immediately, his wife began haranguing him again. Complain, nag, nag; it just went on and on.
All of a sudden, the old mule lashed out with both hind feet; caught her smack in the back of the head. Killed her dead on the spot.
At the funeral several days later, the minister noticed something rather odd. When a woman mourner would approach the old farmer, he would listen for a minute, then nod his head in agreement; but when a man mourner approached him, he would listen for a minute, then shake his head in disagreement.
This was so consistent, the minister decided to ask the old farmer about it. So after the funeral, the minister spoke to the old farmer, and asked him why he nodded his head and agreed with the women, but always shook his head and disagreed with all the men.
The old farmer said, "Well, the women would come up and say something about how nice my wife looked, or how pretty her dress was, so I'd nod my head in agreement."
"And what about the men?" the minister asked.
"They wanted to know if the mule was for sale."
Soon after I was married, I developed a philosophy that resolved the cognitive dissonance I had regarding the “nag, nag, nag” dilemma. It’s a dilemma simply because you can let it disturb you, or you can deal with it positively. My philosophy is: “Two heads are better than one.” I know, I know, it’s not a new philosophy, and it is certainly an old cliche. But whether you label it “nag, nag, nag,” which underscores its negative perception, or call it “help, help, help,” which is more positive, it does make a difference in your perception.
Ever since we were married, my wife and I have traveled a great deal. She is the map reader, and I am the driver. Whether it is alerting me to a forthcoming turn, warning me of an oncoming vehicle, or making certain I stop in time to prevent hitting a car stopped in front of us, I have used the “two heads are better than one” philosophy to assist, aid, support, guide, and comfort me when I drive. It’s just a whole different way of looking at the situation. (By the way, her contributions have always been far more positive (and preventative) than negative (and annoying).)
While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for
lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant, and resumed
their trip.
When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table,
and she didn't miss them until they had been driving for about forty
minutes.
By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance
before they could find a place to turn around, in order to return to the
restaurant to retrieve her glasses.
All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy man. He
fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire
return drive.
The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let
up for a single minute.
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got
out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer
yelled to her,"While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."
- - - - - - - -
At the VillageMatchmaker, the essay, “The Person You Love, the Habits You Hate,” includes a special section labeled, “Nagging,” where specific consideration of this “bad habit” is discussed and ways to address the problem. The last paragraph of the essay is as follows: “However you choose to resolve the pesky issue of bad habits, try to remember, even when your partner is driving you crazy with their unwashed dishes, strange taste in music or endless sea of silly knick-knacks; that you chose them for so much more than their bad habits and that it is sometimes the differences we see in another individual, that allows us to be so enamored of, so amazed and so in love with them.”
At the web site Godlike Productions , the very sexist question, “Why do married women nag so much?” was answered with the following comment. I print it here for I (with my over 45 years of marriage) support the explanation in its entirety: “Men marry a woman hoping she won't change over time (get older, fatter, less sexy ) A woman marries a man, hoping he WILL change. There are a lot of women out there, who think their mission in life is to ‘improve’ their husband.” That is all that is available at this web site, but I thought it was worthwhile enough to reprint it here. No source was given for the quotation.
- - - - - - - -
Copyright October, 2012, by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution.
His last minute plea for clemency to the governor had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed. As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about,
'What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? Dinner is cold and I'm not reheating it . . . . And on and on and on . . .
Too shattered to play his usual role in this familiar ritual, he poured himself a shot of whiskey and headed off for a long hot soak in the bathtub, pursued by the predictable sarcastic remarks as he dragged himself up the stairs.
While he was in the bath, the phone rang. The wife answered and was told that her husband's client, James Wright, had been granted a stay of execution after all. Wright would not be hanged tonight .
Finally realizing what a terrible day he must have had, she decided to go up stairs and give him the good news..
As she opened the bathroom door, she was greeted by the sight of her husband, bent over naked, drying his legs and feet. “They're not hanging Wright tonight,” she said.
He whirled around and screamed, “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN, DON'T YOU EVER STOP?”
It’s always a bit intriguing (for me!) to discover how I came upon a topic. That is, what even sparked an essay called “Nag, nag, nag . . . ?” In this case, the etymology is simple. I was exercising downstairs in our house before jogging. It was 4:30 a.m., and suddenly for the first time ever (I have bee exercising for well over 30 years!), my wife appeared in the stairwell to say that it was only 10-degrees outside, and the chill factor was -10. One of the things she said was, “Frostbite only takes 5 minutes.” She added, too, “Even your eyeballs can be frostbitten.” She knows that I am cautious; she knows that I will come back in if weather or road conditions are bad; she knows that I bundle-up well to protect myself from frostbite. Yes, in the back of my mind, an alarm went off: “Nag, nag, nag” I thought to myself.
An old hillbilly farmer had a wife who nagged him unmercifully. From morning til night (and sometimes later), she was always complaining about something. The only time he got any relief was when he was out plowing with his old mule. He tried to plow a lot.
One day, when he was out plowing, his wife brought him lunch in the field. He drove the old mule into the shade, sat down on a stump, and began to eat his lunch. Immediately, his wife began haranguing him again. Complain, nag, nag; it just went on and on.
All of a sudden, the old mule lashed out with both hind feet; caught her smack in the back of the head. Killed her dead on the spot.
At the funeral several days later, the minister noticed something rather odd. When a woman mourner would approach the old farmer, he would listen for a minute, then nod his head in agreement; but when a man mourner approached him, he would listen for a minute, then shake his head in disagreement.
This was so consistent, the minister decided to ask the old farmer about it. So after the funeral, the minister spoke to the old farmer, and asked him why he nodded his head and agreed with the women, but always shook his head and disagreed with all the men.
The old farmer said, "Well, the women would come up and say something about how nice my wife looked, or how pretty her dress was, so I'd nod my head in agreement."
"And what about the men?" the minister asked.
"They wanted to know if the mule was for sale."
Soon after I was married, I developed a philosophy that resolved the cognitive dissonance I had regarding the “nag, nag, nag” dilemma. It’s a dilemma simply because you can let it disturb you, or you can deal with it positively. My philosophy is: “Two heads are better than one.” I know, I know, it’s not a new philosophy, and it is certainly an old cliche. But whether you label it “nag, nag, nag,” which underscores its negative perception, or call it “help, help, help,” which is more positive, it does make a difference in your perception.
Ever since we were married, my wife and I have traveled a great deal. She is the map reader, and I am the driver. Whether it is alerting me to a forthcoming turn, warning me of an oncoming vehicle, or making certain I stop in time to prevent hitting a car stopped in front of us, I have used the “two heads are better than one” philosophy to assist, aid, support, guide, and comfort me when I drive. It’s just a whole different way of looking at the situation. (By the way, her contributions have always been far more positive (and preventative) than negative (and annoying).)
While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for
lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant, and resumed
their trip.
When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table,
and she didn't miss them until they had been driving for about forty
minutes.
By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance
before they could find a place to turn around, in order to return to the
restaurant to retrieve her glasses.
All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy man. He
fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire
return drive.
The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let
up for a single minute.
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got
out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer
yelled to her,"While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."
- - - - - - - -
At the VillageMatchmaker, the essay, “The Person You Love, the Habits You Hate,” includes a special section labeled, “Nagging,” where specific consideration of this “bad habit” is discussed and ways to address the problem. The last paragraph of the essay is as follows: “However you choose to resolve the pesky issue of bad habits, try to remember, even when your partner is driving you crazy with their unwashed dishes, strange taste in music or endless sea of silly knick-knacks; that you chose them for so much more than their bad habits and that it is sometimes the differences we see in another individual, that allows us to be so enamored of, so amazed and so in love with them.”
At the web site Godlike Productions , the very sexist question, “Why do married women nag so much?” was answered with the following comment. I print it here for I (with my over 45 years of marriage) support the explanation in its entirety: “Men marry a woman hoping she won't change over time (get older, fatter, less sexy ) A woman marries a man, hoping he WILL change. There are a lot of women out there, who think their mission in life is to ‘improve’ their husband.” That is all that is available at this web site, but I thought it was worthwhile enough to reprint it here. No source was given for the quotation.
- - - - - - - -
Copyright October, 2012, by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Strive for growth, development, and change.
SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits. This is one of four motivational quotations for Day #331.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
And Then Some News
Thursday's Essay Preview
The first paragraphs of Thursday's essay, "Nag, Nag, Nag --- A Humorous Essay, " read as follows:
An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution.
His last minute plea for clemency to the governor had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed. As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about,
'What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? Dinner is cold and I'm not reheating it . . . . And on and on and on . . .
[This joke continues for several more paragraphs. Read the rest of it on Thursday.]
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraphs of the essay
[Obviously, the following is the end of a joke that begins earlier in the essay. Read the beginning of this joke on Thursday.]
All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy man. He
fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire
return drive.
The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let
up for a single minute.
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got
out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer
yelled to her,"While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."
And Then Some News
Monday, October 8, 2012
Better by mistake: The unexpected benefits of being wrong
Better by mistake: The unexpected benefits of being wrong
By Alina Tugend
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II
This is an excellent book. Not only is it well-written and well-researched, but the narration flows smoothly, and the research is incorporated easily and unobtrusively.
In seventeen pages in half the font size of the text, she includes a wonderful and quite extensive set of notes. Her bibliography, in the same reduced font size, extends for eleven pages.
Tugend truly knows what she is talking about, and not only does she offer examples with which all readers can identify, whether it is in raising children, in the workplace, medicine, aviation, genders, cultures, or individually, her insights and conclusions are on the mark.
I have used the research (the five dimensions) that Geert Hofstede, the Dutch psychologist, “has done over the years to identify and explain variations among societies” (p. 203), in my textbook, Communicating Effectively, 10th ed. (McGraw-Hill, 2012) for many years, and I was pleased to see Tugend’s endorsement of them. She said, “Nonetheless [despite his dimensions being “critiqued for failing to take into account minority societies within a dominant culture” (p. 205)], his work has proved very useful, and has withstood the test of time, in helping understand important cultural differences” (p. 205).
His examples of Hofstede’s dimensions are clear and helpful, and I plan to use one of them (with permission, of course), as a “Consider This” box or as an “Active Open-Mindedness,” or “Another Point of View” supplementary box. That is how good her material is.
I also appreciated Tugend’s continual reminders about how we (her readers) can successfully deal with mistakes, or how they can be dealt with in the various areas she writes about. In her “Conclusion,” she summarizes her advice by saying, “We all make our share of those [a faux pas or blunder], and that’s okay also. But if we can all forgive ours and others’ errors more often, if we can acknowledge that perfection is a myth and that human beings screw up on a regular basis—and we can either simply feel bad about it and find someone to accuse or learn from it—then swe are on the right track. Make no mistake about it” (p. 252).
This book is a “must read” for everyone. There are “unexpected benefits of being wrong” that all people need to read.
By Alina Tugend
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II
This is an excellent book. Not only is it well-written and well-researched, but the narration flows smoothly, and the research is incorporated easily and unobtrusively.
In seventeen pages in half the font size of the text, she includes a wonderful and quite extensive set of notes. Her bibliography, in the same reduced font size, extends for eleven pages.
Tugend truly knows what she is talking about, and not only does she offer examples with which all readers can identify, whether it is in raising children, in the workplace, medicine, aviation, genders, cultures, or individually, her insights and conclusions are on the mark.
I have used the research (the five dimensions) that Geert Hofstede, the Dutch psychologist, “has done over the years to identify and explain variations among societies” (p. 203), in my textbook, Communicating Effectively, 10th ed. (McGraw-Hill, 2012) for many years, and I was pleased to see Tugend’s endorsement of them. She said, “Nonetheless [despite his dimensions being “critiqued for failing to take into account minority societies within a dominant culture” (p. 205)], his work has proved very useful, and has withstood the test of time, in helping understand important cultural differences” (p. 205).
His examples of Hofstede’s dimensions are clear and helpful, and I plan to use one of them (with permission, of course), as a “Consider This” box or as an “Active Open-Mindedness,” or “Another Point of View” supplementary box. That is how good her material is.
I also appreciated Tugend’s continual reminders about how we (her readers) can successfully deal with mistakes, or how they can be dealt with in the various areas she writes about. In her “Conclusion,” she summarizes her advice by saying, “We all make our share of those [a faux pas or blunder], and that’s okay also. But if we can all forgive ours and others’ errors more often, if we can acknowledge that perfection is a myth and that human beings screw up on a regular basis—and we can either simply feel bad about it and find someone to accuse or learn from it—then swe are on the right track. Make no mistake about it” (p. 252).
This book is a “must read” for everyone. There are “unexpected benefits of being wrong” that all people need to read.
Friday, October 5, 2012
LAUGH . . . And Then Some!
Why was I with her? She reminds me of you. In fact, she reminds me more of you than you do!
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.
He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot.
From Day #98 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.
He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot.
Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet, Volume 2
From Day #98 in a second complete manuscript compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Thursday, October 4, 2012
You must be joking!
by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
A newlywed couple just moved into their new house. One day the husband comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, you know, in the upstairs bathroom one of the pipes is leaking, could you fix it?"
The husband just looked at his wife and said, "What do I look like, Mr.Plumber?”
A few days went by, and he comes home from work and again his wife asks for a favor, "Honey, the car won't start, I think that it needs a new battery. Could you change it for me?"
"What do I look like, Mr.Goodwrench?" was his response.
Another couple of weeks go by, and it's raining pretty hard. His wife then finds a leak in the roof. She pleads with him as he's walking through the door. "Honey, there's a leak on the roof! Can you please fix it?" He just looked at her and said "What do I look like, Bob Vila?" and sat down with a beer and watched a game on TV.
One weekend the husband woke up and it was pouring pretty hard, but the leak on the roof was gone! Speaking of leaks, he also went to take a shower, and he found that the one pipe behind the sink wasn't leaking anymore either.
His wife was coming home just then, and as she walked through the door, the husband asked, "Honey, how come there aren't any more leaks, and the car's running?"
She replied nonchalantly, "Oh, the other day I was picking up the mail, and I ran into one of our new neighbors, Jon. What a nice man. He came over and fixed everything." "Wow, did he charge us anything?" asked the husband. "No, he just said that he'd do it for free if I either baked him a cake or had sex with him" she said.
"Cool. What kind of cake did you make?" asked the husband. "Cake? What the hell do you think I look like, Betty Crocker?
Two women went out for ladies night out. They got a little tipsy and decided to walk home for the bar. On the way home they each had to use the bathroom. They were walking by a cemetery and decided to hide behind a grave marker and go. Neither having paper it was decided they would use their underwear and just throw them away. Well the first lady goes and throws hers away. When the other lady goes she has on some expensive underwear and does not care to lose them so she grabs a big ribbon of some flowers on a adjacent grave.
The next day the one husband calls the other and says “I dont think we should have girls night out anymore, my wife came home with no underwear.”
Well the other husband says, “Is that all? My wife came home with a note attached to her butt that read ‘FROM ALL OF US AT THE FIRE STATION, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!’”
Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, are extremely mischievous. They are always getting into trouble and their parents know all about it. If any mischief occurs in their town, the two boys are probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually.
So the mother sent the 8 year old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.
The preacher, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Do you know where God is, son?"
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.
So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God?!"
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "Where is God?!"
The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.
When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "what happened?"
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time.
GOD is missing, and they think we did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.
He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out.
When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, “Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.
“The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.”
Edna replied, “He didn't hang himself. I put him there to dry . . . . How soon can I go home?'”
Two blind pilots both are wearing dark glasses, one is using a guide dog, and the other is tapping his way along the aisle with a cane.
Nervous laughter spreads through the cabin, but the men enter the cockpit, the door closes, and the engines start up. The passengers begin glancing nervously around, searching for some sign that this is just a little practical joke. None is forthcoming.
The plane moves faster and faster down the runway and the people sitting in the window seats realize they're headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport. As it begins to look as though the plane will plough in to the water, panicked screams fill the cabin. At that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon all retreat into t heir magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands.
In the cockpit, one of the blind pilots turns to the other and says,"ya know, Bob, one of these days, they're gonna scream too late and we're all gonna die."
- - - - - - - -
100 Funniest Jokes of All Time prints some terrific jokes, no question about it. Here’s one: A guy meets a hooker in a bar. She says, "This is your lucky night. I’ve got a special game for you. I’ll do absolutely anything you want for $300, as long as you can say it in three words." The guy replies, "Hey, why not?" He pull his wallet out of his pocket, and one at a time lays three hundred-dollar bills on the bar, and says, slowly: "Paint…my…house."
At the website, The-Jokes, there are hundreds of them. Here’s one I liked: A rather confident man walks into a bar and takes a seat next to a very attractive woman. He gives her a quick glance, then casually looks at his watch for a moment.
The woman notices this and asks, "Is your date running late?"
"No", he replies, "I just bought this state-of-the-art watch and I was just testing it."
The intrigued woman says, "A state-of-the-art watch? What's so special about it?"
"It uses alpha waves to telepathically talk to me," he explains.
"What's it telling you now?"
"Well, it says you're not wearing any panties..."
The woman giggles and replies, "Well it must be broken then because I am wearing panties!"
The man explains, "Damn thing must be an hour fast."
The website Dogpile includes links to thousands of jokes.
- - - - - - - - -
Copyright October, 2012, by And Then Some Publishing L.L. C.
A newlywed couple just moved into their new house. One day the husband comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, you know, in the upstairs bathroom one of the pipes is leaking, could you fix it?"
The husband just looked at his wife and said, "What do I look like, Mr.Plumber?”
A few days went by, and he comes home from work and again his wife asks for a favor, "Honey, the car won't start, I think that it needs a new battery. Could you change it for me?"
"What do I look like, Mr.Goodwrench?" was his response.
Another couple of weeks go by, and it's raining pretty hard. His wife then finds a leak in the roof. She pleads with him as he's walking through the door. "Honey, there's a leak on the roof! Can you please fix it?" He just looked at her and said "What do I look like, Bob Vila?" and sat down with a beer and watched a game on TV.
One weekend the husband woke up and it was pouring pretty hard, but the leak on the roof was gone! Speaking of leaks, he also went to take a shower, and he found that the one pipe behind the sink wasn't leaking anymore either.
His wife was coming home just then, and as she walked through the door, the husband asked, "Honey, how come there aren't any more leaks, and the car's running?"
She replied nonchalantly, "Oh, the other day I was picking up the mail, and I ran into one of our new neighbors, Jon. What a nice man. He came over and fixed everything." "Wow, did he charge us anything?" asked the husband. "No, he just said that he'd do it for free if I either baked him a cake or had sex with him" she said.
"Cool. What kind of cake did you make?" asked the husband. "Cake? What the hell do you think I look like, Betty Crocker?
Two women went out for ladies night out. They got a little tipsy and decided to walk home for the bar. On the way home they each had to use the bathroom. They were walking by a cemetery and decided to hide behind a grave marker and go. Neither having paper it was decided they would use their underwear and just throw them away. Well the first lady goes and throws hers away. When the other lady goes she has on some expensive underwear and does not care to lose them so she grabs a big ribbon of some flowers on a adjacent grave.
The next day the one husband calls the other and says “I dont think we should have girls night out anymore, my wife came home with no underwear.”
Well the other husband says, “Is that all? My wife came home with a note attached to her butt that read ‘FROM ALL OF US AT THE FIRE STATION, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!’”
Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, are extremely mischievous. They are always getting into trouble and their parents know all about it. If any mischief occurs in their town, the two boys are probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually.
So the mother sent the 8 year old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.
The preacher, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Do you know where God is, son?"
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.
So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God?!"
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "Where is God?!"
The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.
When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "what happened?"
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time.
GOD is missing, and they think we did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.
He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out.
When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, “Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.
“The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.”
Edna replied, “He didn't hang himself. I put him there to dry . . . . How soon can I go home?'”
Two blind pilots both are wearing dark glasses, one is using a guide dog, and the other is tapping his way along the aisle with a cane.
Nervous laughter spreads through the cabin, but the men enter the cockpit, the door closes, and the engines start up. The passengers begin glancing nervously around, searching for some sign that this is just a little practical joke. None is forthcoming.
The plane moves faster and faster down the runway and the people sitting in the window seats realize they're headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport. As it begins to look as though the plane will plough in to the water, panicked screams fill the cabin. At that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon all retreat into t heir magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands.
In the cockpit, one of the blind pilots turns to the other and says,"ya know, Bob, one of these days, they're gonna scream too late and we're all gonna die."
- - - - - - - -
100 Funniest Jokes of All Time prints some terrific jokes, no question about it. Here’s one: A guy meets a hooker in a bar. She says, "This is your lucky night. I’ve got a special game for you. I’ll do absolutely anything you want for $300, as long as you can say it in three words." The guy replies, "Hey, why not?" He pull his wallet out of his pocket, and one at a time lays three hundred-dollar bills on the bar, and says, slowly: "Paint…my…house."
At the website, The-Jokes, there are hundreds of them. Here’s one I liked: A rather confident man walks into a bar and takes a seat next to a very attractive woman. He gives her a quick glance, then casually looks at his watch for a moment.
The woman notices this and asks, "Is your date running late?"
"No", he replies, "I just bought this state-of-the-art watch and I was just testing it."
The intrigued woman says, "A state-of-the-art watch? What's so special about it?"
"It uses alpha waves to telepathically talk to me," he explains.
"What's it telling you now?"
"Well, it says you're not wearing any panties..."
The woman giggles and replies, "Well it must be broken then because I am wearing panties!"
The man explains, "Damn thing must be an hour fast."
The website Dogpile includes links to thousands of jokes.
- - - - - - - - -
Copyright October, 2012, by And Then Some Publishing L.L. C.
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