Find tons of quotes to inspire your journey:
SMOERs - Available at Amazon
Self Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Quotations by Richard L. Weaver II
With the clutter that technology adds to our lives, the chatter that the media supplies, and the sounds that people, automobiles, and airplanes throw in, there is cause for joyous celebration in stillness—being calm and quiet. When was the last time you turned off television or the Internet and just sat quietly? When was the last time you decided not to check your email, answer your cell phone, surf the Internet, or check for responses on your social networking sites? It is time now for a "make it count" moment.
Find tons of quotes to inspire your journey:
SMOERs - Available at Amazon
Self Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules
Find tons of quotes to inspire your journey:
SMOERs - Available at Amazon
Self Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
ATSP News: Thursday Essay Preview
by Anthony Weaver
I don't know anything about La Boca and Thursday's essay, Buenos Aires: Our Only Princess Excursion, but one thing immediately stands out. I can't wait to read about the soccer stadium. Below is a preview:
"La Boca, as it turns out, is a very special place. I began talking about it in the first essay, but it deserves more space. There are two things that make La Boca stand out, and we passed close to the first, in getting to the second."
"The first is the soccer stadium. "A man," Teresa said, "will give up his home, his family, and even his marriage, but he will never give up his devotion to soccer." These are dedicated, committed, zealous, even fervent soccer fans."
Read more in this week's Thursday's Essay!
I don't know anything about La Boca and Thursday's essay, Buenos Aires: Our Only Princess Excursion, but one thing immediately stands out. I can't wait to read about the soccer stadium. Below is a preview:
"The first is the soccer stadium. "A man," Teresa said, "will give up his home, his family, and even his marriage, but he will never give up his devotion to soccer." These are dedicated, committed, zealous, even fervent soccer fans."
Read more in this week's Thursday's Essay!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Change anything: The new science of personal success
Change anything: The new science of personal success
By Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
I have to admit that I checked out Amazon.com before I wrote this review of Change Anything. At this time (08-20-11), there are 43 reviews and when averaged together, they average five stars out of five. This is important because, for me, it means that a number of people are finding this book useful (or that the authors have lots of family members and friends!). Admittedly, some complain that it’s a bit dry, and others complain that there is no real "science" involved, but overall, the reviews are outstanding.
The reason I checked out Amazon.com first is that I am not looking to change anything at the current time: I do not need to lose weight; I am financially fit; I have no addictions, and I am not looking for any change in my relationships. That simply means that I am not certain that the ideas for change are valid; however, when you look at the positive reviews and the number of people who have found the ideas here valuable, useful, or practical, it indicates the authors have effectively hit on the right message, useful and productive suggestions, and a technique that works.
As I have said in reviewing a number of other books — like those on how to communicate effectively — I feel that any book that makes (or has the potential of making) a positive contribution to our well being or a successful life or whatever, should be heralded and revered. Those who need help in various areas should be able to find it, and I love (being a writer myself) supporting the book publishing industry.
Here, then is my assessment of this book. 1) It is extremely well-written. 2) The "Notes" section looks very strong. 3) It has a terrific index. 4) The examples used throughout are useful and engaging. 5) The ideas are practical, straightforward, well-explained, and useful. There is no doubt that this is a "how-to-do-it" book.
Although the authors offer a number of valuable tools for change (saying that willpower alone is not sufficient) — 1. Love what you hate, or come to terms with pleasure and pain. 2. Do what you can or build the necessary skills that can spur change. 3. and 4. Turn accomplices into friends or get other people into the act of change.5. Invert the Economy or use incentives, and, thus, manipulate the benefits of change. 6. Control your space or use the environment to help the change process — it still comes down to whether or not people are willing to make the commitment — even a commitment to purchase this book!
As one reviewer at Amazon.com said, "The whole book is geared towards specific actions you can implement so that you aren't just relying on willpower alone. The methods recommended here are not quick-fix ideas, rather they are each a part of a larger process of taking deliberate steps to begin heading in the direction you really want to go."
I really enjoyed their discussion of the six sources of Influence in our lives. These are the six sources of influence that can be used to promote a healthy lifestyle:
1. personal motivation where you tap into your existing desires and wants
2. personal ability where you learn new skills to promote change
3. social motivation where you turn accomplices into friends that help you make positive changes
4. social ability where you use confederates to enable good choices
5. structural motivation where you directly link short-term rewards and punishments to your new habits
6. structural ability where you change your environment to one more likely to promote the change you want
People who want to change need to seek out this book. It has real value and potential, but everyone must realize something the authors acknowledge, too: Any change comes from within and requires commitment, work, time, and patience. And whether you like it or not, there is no magic formula, and most people who want change — in whatever area of life but especially in personal development (e.g., weight, exercise, diet, or sleep) — will not put forth the commitment, do the necessary work, take the time, or even be patient (they want instant results!).
By Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
I have to admit that I checked out Amazon.com before I wrote this review of Change Anything. At this time (08-20-11), there are 43 reviews and when averaged together, they average five stars out of five. This is important because, for me, it means that a number of people are finding this book useful (or that the authors have lots of family members and friends!). Admittedly, some complain that it’s a bit dry, and others complain that there is no real "science" involved, but overall, the reviews are outstanding.
The reason I checked out Amazon.com first is that I am not looking to change anything at the current time: I do not need to lose weight; I am financially fit; I have no addictions, and I am not looking for any change in my relationships. That simply means that I am not certain that the ideas for change are valid; however, when you look at the positive reviews and the number of people who have found the ideas here valuable, useful, or practical, it indicates the authors have effectively hit on the right message, useful and productive suggestions, and a technique that works.
As I have said in reviewing a number of other books — like those on how to communicate effectively — I feel that any book that makes (or has the potential of making) a positive contribution to our well being or a successful life or whatever, should be heralded and revered. Those who need help in various areas should be able to find it, and I love (being a writer myself) supporting the book publishing industry.
Here, then is my assessment of this book. 1) It is extremely well-written. 2) The "Notes" section looks very strong. 3) It has a terrific index. 4) The examples used throughout are useful and engaging. 5) The ideas are practical, straightforward, well-explained, and useful. There is no doubt that this is a "how-to-do-it" book.
Although the authors offer a number of valuable tools for change (saying that willpower alone is not sufficient) — 1. Love what you hate, or come to terms with pleasure and pain. 2. Do what you can or build the necessary skills that can spur change. 3. and 4. Turn accomplices into friends or get other people into the act of change.5. Invert the Economy or use incentives, and, thus, manipulate the benefits of change. 6. Control your space or use the environment to help the change process — it still comes down to whether or not people are willing to make the commitment — even a commitment to purchase this book!
As one reviewer at Amazon.com said, "The whole book is geared towards specific actions you can implement so that you aren't just relying on willpower alone. The methods recommended here are not quick-fix ideas, rather they are each a part of a larger process of taking deliberate steps to begin heading in the direction you really want to go."
I really enjoyed their discussion of the six sources of Influence in our lives. These are the six sources of influence that can be used to promote a healthy lifestyle:
1. personal motivation where you tap into your existing desires and wants
2. personal ability where you learn new skills to promote change
3. social motivation where you turn accomplices into friends that help you make positive changes
4. social ability where you use confederates to enable good choices
5. structural motivation where you directly link short-term rewards and punishments to your new habits
6. structural ability where you change your environment to one more likely to promote the change you want
People who want to change need to seek out this book. It has real value and potential, but everyone must realize something the authors acknowledge, too: Any change comes from within and requires commitment, work, time, and patience. And whether you like it or not, there is no magic formula, and most people who want change — in whatever area of life but especially in personal development (e.g., weight, exercise, diet, or sleep) — will not put forth the commitment, do the necessary work, take the time, or even be patient (they want instant results!).
Friday, March 15, 2013
Edgar E Willis Uploads Two New Videos
by Anthony Weaver
No... at 99 years old, Edgar E. Willis did not upload the videos himself. He's often admitted that he is technology challenged. In fact, I'm amazed throughout Edgar's career as an author and professor, he never learned how to type. Seriously.
The two new videos uploaded to the And Then Some Publishing YouTube Channel are about public speaking, plus, life and longevity.
In the first video Edgar E. Willis, Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, talks about his career in public speaking. He gives expert advice to help you give the greatest speech of your life!
In the second video he talks about his life, family, career and keys to living a long fulfilling life.
Next week in Tuesday's upcoming And Then Some News, Edgar will have a question for everyone.
Video 1: Public Speaking - Expert Advice from Edgar E. Willis
Video 2: Life and Longevity - Edgar E Willis
No... at 99 years old, Edgar E. Willis did not upload the videos himself. He's often admitted that he is technology challenged. In fact, I'm amazed throughout Edgar's career as an author and professor, he never learned how to type. Seriously.
The two new videos uploaded to the And Then Some Publishing YouTube Channel are about public speaking, plus, life and longevity.
In the first video Edgar E. Willis, Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, talks about his career in public speaking. He gives expert advice to help you give the greatest speech of your life!
In the second video he talks about his life, family, career and keys to living a long fulfilling life.
Next week in Tuesday's upcoming And Then Some News, Edgar will have a question for everyone.
Video 1: Public Speaking - Expert Advice from Edgar E. Willis
Video 2: Life and Longevity - Edgar E Willis
Friday Humor
In parochial school
students are taught that lying is a sin. However, instructions also
advised that using a bit of imagination was OK to express the Truth differently
without lying. Below is a perfect example of those teachings:
Getting a Hairdryer through Customs.
An attractive young woman on a flight from Ireland asked the Priest beside her, 'Father, may I ask a favor?''
'Of course child. What may I do for you?'
'Well, I bought my mother an expensive hair dryer for her birthday. It is unopened but well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it.
Is there any way you could carry it through customs for me? Hide it under your Robes perhaps?'
'I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you, I will not lie.'
'With your honest face, Father, no one will question you.'
When they got to Customs, she let the priest go first. The official asked, 'Father, do you have anything to declare?'
'From the top of my head down to my waist I have nothing to declare.'
The official thought this answer strange, so asked, 'And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?'
'I have a marvelous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused.'
Roaring with laughter, the official said,
Getting a Hairdryer through Customs.
An attractive young woman on a flight from Ireland asked the Priest beside her, 'Father, may I ask a favor?''
'Of course child. What may I do for you?'
'Well, I bought my mother an expensive hair dryer for her birthday. It is unopened but well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it.
Is there any way you could carry it through customs for me? Hide it under your Robes perhaps?'
'I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you, I will not lie.'
'With your honest face, Father, no one will question you.'
When they got to Customs, she let the priest go first. The official asked, 'Father, do you have anything to declare?'
'From the top of my head down to my waist I have nothing to declare.'
The official thought this answer strange, so asked, 'And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?'
'I have a marvelous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused.'
Roaring with laughter, the official said,
''Go ahead,
Father!!!!!"
Next
please!!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Buenos Aires: Our only South American Princess Excursion (a bus tour)
by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
Most of the places discussed in our Fodor’s book on South America have a page or two of description and history. For Buenos Aires, the description and history is a mere paragraph long (103 words total). If all you knew of the city was dependent on this brief description, serious travelers might choose to avoid the city—"incredible food, fresh young designers, and a thriving cultural scene" (p. 27).
Our tour guide (Teresa) told us an interesting story that may explain a portion of the lack of "charm." She said that during the very early days of the city, the founding father (and those in power) emphasized the cattle and the grasslands of the interior—unlike Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo cities which placed an emphasis on the beaches and built pedestrian walkways and even boulevards that highlight and emphasize the beaches and water.
Of course, if the Rio de la Plata (river of silver) looked like it did today from Deck 18 (Skywalker’s Nightclub), no punctuation would be necessary. It is a huge, brown (mud-like) expanse as far as the eye can see. The river is over 30 miles wide here in the port of Buenos Aires, and where the river (really an estuary) meets the Atlantic Ocean, it is 180 miles wide.
Teresa told us, too, that Buenos Aires was preparing for "Carnival," but she said it was a miniature version of "Carnival" in Rio. Here it was truly a copy—"it feels forced," she said. In Rio, she said, the people really feel the music. For them, it is natural, unforced, and feels right.
The pink, silk floss trees , with their cotton-candy blooms, were all on display as we drove through the city, and the parks and trees beautifully set off the austere buildings. Buenos Aires is the commercial, administrative, artistic, and intellectual hub of Argentina.
Early on our 3½-hour tour, we headed for the 14 acre Cementerio de la Recoleta. This property contains 4,691 vaults, all above ground. 94 of those have been declared National Historical Monuments by the Argentine government. You enter the cemetery through neo-classical gates with tall Doric columns. This is Argentina’s most elegant and aristocratic cemetery where the national heroes, former presidents, famous personalities, and many aristocratic families are buried.
Many of the vaults are elaborate marble mausoleums decorated with statues in a wide variety of architectural styles such as art deco, art nouveau, baroque, and neo-gothic, and most of the materials used in the construction of the tombs was imported from Paris and Milan between 1880 and 1930. The entire cemetery is laid out in sections like city blocks with wide tree-lined main walkways branching into sidewalks filled with mausoleums built wall-to-wall with no breaks.
It should be noted that while many of the mausoleums are in fine shape and well-maintained, others have fallen into disrepair. Some are found with broken glass and are littered with rubbish.
I asked Teresa if this was a Catholic cemetery, and she replied that when it opened in 1822, it was only for Catholics, but later, in 1863, Argentine president Bartolome Mitre signed a decree which allowed the burial of members of other religions.
Because of the importance of the Cementerio de la Recoleta, I went to the web site Buenos Aires Travel Planet and here I am quoting information from that site:
"The most internationally famous historical and political figure in the cemetery is Eva "Evita" Duarte de Perón, wife of former Argentine President Juan Domingo Perón and a political leader in her own right. Eva’s body was embalmed after her she died from cancer in 1952 at the young age of thirty-three. Her body was later stolen after the military coup which overthrew her husband in 1955, and hidden in a cemetery in Milan, Italy until 1971 when it was returned to Juan Perón who was exiled in Spain. It was later repatriated to Argentina. To avoid any further tampering with her remains, she was buried eight meters beneath the passage to the Duarte family crypt. Today Eva Perón’s tomb is the most visited in the cemetery. Compared to other tombs and mausoleums it is very discrete; the numerous cards and flowers, the constant stream of visitors and the many camera shutters clicking are the only indicators that someone of great historical significance lays to rest there."
Our tour moved from one "must see" tourist site to another. The new site is the widest street in Buenos Aires, Av. 9 de Julio, named to commemorate Argentine’s independence from Spain on July 9, 1816. The avenue is a full city-block wide. It has up to seven lanes in each direction and is flanked on either side by parallel streets of two lanes each.
Crossing the avenue at street level often requires a few minutes, as all intersections have traffic lights. Under normal walking speed, it takes pedestrians normally two to three green lights to cross it. Teresa told us a joke of a man who was trying to cross the road and sees a man on the other side. He loudly shouts to him, "Sir, I’m trying to get to the other side. How did you do it?" The other man shouts back, "I’ve never crossed it. I was born on this side."
A third "must see" site followed as we arrived at La Boca. As one of Buenos Aire’s 48 barrios, La Boca is located in the city’s southeast near its old port. The residents are of mixed European descent, mainly Italian, Spanish, German, French, Arab, and Basque.
It is a popular destination for tourists because of it colorful houses and its pedestrian street, the Caminito, where numerous artists display and sell their work. Tango artists perform, and tango-related memorabilia is sold. In addition, there is the La Ribera theatre, many tango clubs and Italian taverns. I asked Teresa if it is always this busy (we were there on a Wednesday morning), and she said, "No. Only when the big cruise ships are visiting." Not only was the MSC Armonia docked near our ship, but the Royal Caribbean ship, "Spelndor of the Seas" was in port as well.
In getting to LaBoca, we passed the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, which looks like the Washington Monument. It is a national historic monument located in the Plaza de la Republica at the intersection of avenues Corrientes and 9 de Julio. It was built in 1936 to commemorate the fourth centenary of the first foundation of the city. Since the Obelisk of the city is always associated with the night and entertainment of Buenos Aires, a zone around the monument has been designated that is similar to Times Square in New York and Picadilly Circus in London—two associations the people of Buenos Aires appreciate.
There is more information about Buenos Aires in the second essay that covers our planned Princess excursion around the city.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
At tripadvisor.com--- Buenos Aires Vacations --- click on the icon that says 3 Days in Buenos Aires, and you will get a list and description of all the major attractions (the "must sees") on any tour of the city.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright March, 2013, by And Then Some Publishing LLC
Most of the places discussed in our Fodor’s book on South America have a page or two of description and history. For Buenos Aires, the description and history is a mere paragraph long (103 words total). If all you knew of the city was dependent on this brief description, serious travelers might choose to avoid the city—"incredible food, fresh young designers, and a thriving cultural scene" (p. 27).
Our tour guide (Teresa) told us an interesting story that may explain a portion of the lack of "charm." She said that during the very early days of the city, the founding father (and those in power) emphasized the cattle and the grasslands of the interior—unlike Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo cities which placed an emphasis on the beaches and built pedestrian walkways and even boulevards that highlight and emphasize the beaches and water.
Of course, if the Rio de la Plata (river of silver) looked like it did today from Deck 18 (Skywalker’s Nightclub), no punctuation would be necessary. It is a huge, brown (mud-like) expanse as far as the eye can see. The river is over 30 miles wide here in the port of Buenos Aires, and where the river (really an estuary) meets the Atlantic Ocean, it is 180 miles wide.
Teresa told us, too, that Buenos Aires was preparing for "Carnival," but she said it was a miniature version of "Carnival" in Rio. Here it was truly a copy—"it feels forced," she said. In Rio, she said, the people really feel the music. For them, it is natural, unforced, and feels right.
The pink, silk floss trees , with their cotton-candy blooms, were all on display as we drove through the city, and the parks and trees beautifully set off the austere buildings. Buenos Aires is the commercial, administrative, artistic, and intellectual hub of Argentina.
Early on our 3½-hour tour, we headed for the 14 acre Cementerio de la Recoleta. This property contains 4,691 vaults, all above ground. 94 of those have been declared National Historical Monuments by the Argentine government. You enter the cemetery through neo-classical gates with tall Doric columns. This is Argentina’s most elegant and aristocratic cemetery where the national heroes, former presidents, famous personalities, and many aristocratic families are buried.
Many of the vaults are elaborate marble mausoleums decorated with statues in a wide variety of architectural styles such as art deco, art nouveau, baroque, and neo-gothic, and most of the materials used in the construction of the tombs was imported from Paris and Milan between 1880 and 1930. The entire cemetery is laid out in sections like city blocks with wide tree-lined main walkways branching into sidewalks filled with mausoleums built wall-to-wall with no breaks.
It should be noted that while many of the mausoleums are in fine shape and well-maintained, others have fallen into disrepair. Some are found with broken glass and are littered with rubbish.
I asked Teresa if this was a Catholic cemetery, and she replied that when it opened in 1822, it was only for Catholics, but later, in 1863, Argentine president Bartolome Mitre signed a decree which allowed the burial of members of other religions.
Because of the importance of the Cementerio de la Recoleta, I went to the web site Buenos Aires Travel Planet
Our tour moved from one "must see" tourist site to another. The new site is the widest street in Buenos Aires, Av. 9 de Julio, named to commemorate Argentine’s independence from Spain on July 9, 1816. The avenue is a full city-block wide. It has up to seven lanes in each direction and is flanked on either side by parallel streets of two lanes each.
Crossing the avenue at street level often requires a few minutes, as all intersections have traffic lights. Under normal walking speed, it takes pedestrians normally two to three green lights to cross it. Teresa told us a joke of a man who was trying to cross the road and sees a man on the other side. He loudly shouts to him, "Sir, I’m trying to get to the other side. How did you do it?" The other man shouts back, "I’ve never crossed it. I was born on this side."
A third "must see" site followed as we arrived at La Boca. As one of Buenos Aire’s 48 barrios, La Boca is located in the city’s southeast near its old port. The residents are of mixed European descent, mainly Italian, Spanish, German, French, Arab, and Basque.
It is a popular destination for tourists because of it colorful houses and its pedestrian street, the Caminito, where numerous artists display and sell their work. Tango artists perform, and tango-related memorabilia is sold. In addition, there is the La Ribera theatre, many tango clubs and Italian taverns. I asked Teresa if it is always this busy (we were there on a Wednesday morning), and she said, "No. Only when the big cruise ships are visiting." Not only was the MSC Armonia docked near our ship, but the Royal Caribbean ship, "Spelndor of the Seas" was in port as well.
In getting to LaBoca, we passed the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, which looks like the Washington Monument. It is a national historic monument located in the Plaza de la Republica at the intersection of avenues Corrientes and 9 de Julio. It was built in 1936 to commemorate the fourth centenary of the first foundation of the city. Since the Obelisk of the city is always associated with the night and entertainment of Buenos Aires, a zone around the monument has been designated that is similar to Times Square in New York and Picadilly Circus in London—two associations the people of Buenos Aires appreciate.
There is more information about Buenos Aires in the second essay that covers our planned Princess excursion around the city.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
At tripadvisor.com--- Buenos Aires Vacations --- click on the icon that says 3 Days in Buenos Aires, and you will get a list and description of all the major attractions (the "must sees") on any tour of the city.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright March, 2013, by And Then Some Publishing LLC
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Quotations by Richard L. Weaver II
When you are stretched tightly and the mental strain is intense, recognize the signals, pay atention to your health, turn your stress into positive plans and actions, make the necessary adjustments in your life, and practice relaxation techniques. Your stress will disappear.
Find tons of quotes to inspire your journey:
SMOERs - Available at Amazon
Self Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules
Find tons of quotes to inspire your journey:
SMOERs - Available at Amazon
Self Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
And Then Some News - New Videos
by Anthony Weaver
This Thursday we take a trip to Buenos Aires. An excerpt from the upcoming essay reads, "Our tour guide (Teresa) told us an interesting story that may explain a portion of Buenos Aires' lack of "charm." She said that during the very early days of the city, the founding father (and those in power) emphasized the cattle and the grasslands of the interior—unlike Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo, cities which placed an emphasis on the beaches and built pedestrian walkways and even boulevards that highlight and emphasize the beaches and water."
There's so much more than meets the eye when it comes to Buenos Aires. Learn more in Thursday's Essay and remember, there are an additional 60 travel essays written by Dr. Richard L. Weaver II in his book Exotic Destinations... And Then Some!: Stories of adventures from around the world. It even includes a picture of him on the cover of the book!
New Videos on the way this week!
Since January 2013 I've been shooting videos with Richard L. Weaver II and Edgar E. Willis. I've been slowly releasing them as I finish editing and getting them ready for uploading to YouTube. There are a total of seven new videos and next week's video will be asking you, the viewer, a question. Exciting!
The first video that has been uploaded to ATSPpublishing YouTube channel is an introduction to Dr. Richard L. Weaver II. He talks about how he started in his writing career, his background experiences, and the books he has published. He has also updated his Google+ page so you can get to know Richard "Dick" Weaver better.
The second video is from Richard L. Weaver II YouTube channel and features an interview with Edgar E. Willis about his book, How to be Funny on Purpose. He talks about his love of humor and why he wrote his book.
Video 1: About Author Dr. Richard L. Weaver II
Video 2: How to be Funny on Purpose - Book Interview with Edgar E. Willis
This Thursday we take a trip to Buenos Aires. An excerpt from the upcoming essay reads, "Our tour guide (Teresa) told us an interesting story that may explain a portion of Buenos Aires' lack of "charm." She said that during the very early days of the city, the founding father (and those in power) emphasized the cattle and the grasslands of the interior—unlike Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo, cities which placed an emphasis on the beaches and built pedestrian walkways and even boulevards that highlight and emphasize the beaches and water."
There's so much more than meets the eye when it comes to Buenos Aires. Learn more in Thursday's Essay and remember, there are an additional 60 travel essays written by Dr. Richard L. Weaver II in his book Exotic Destinations... And Then Some!: Stories of adventures from around the world. It even includes a picture of him on the cover of the book!
New Videos on the way this week!
Since January 2013 I've been shooting videos with Richard L. Weaver II and Edgar E. Willis. I've been slowly releasing them as I finish editing and getting them ready for uploading to YouTube. There are a total of seven new videos and next week's video will be asking you, the viewer, a question. Exciting!
The first video that has been uploaded to ATSPpublishing YouTube channel is an introduction to Dr. Richard L. Weaver II. He talks about how he started in his writing career, his background experiences, and the books he has published. He has also updated his Google+ page so you can get to know Richard "Dick" Weaver better.
The second video is from Richard L. Weaver II YouTube channel and features an interview with Edgar E. Willis about his book, How to be Funny on Purpose. He talks about his love of humor and why he wrote his book.
Video 1: About Author Dr. Richard L. Weaver II
Video 2: How to be Funny on Purpose - Book Interview with Edgar E. Willis
Monday, March 11, 2013
Book Review: Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do
Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do
Edited by Meredith Maran
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
Truly fascinating! A sensational read! Delightful, charming, and amazing don’t fully capture my impression. Whether you are a writer, someone who wants to become a writer, or just someone interested in the remarkable world of writers, you will be as thrilled by the sincere, candid, no-nonsense, matter-of-fact candor of these authors as I was.
Now, you may quibble with my use of the phrase, "remarkable world of writers," but you will have greater appreciation for my use of the phrase when you know that I am a writer too. When I say, "remarkable world of writers," it is simply that I find so many of these authors accurately describing my world. I have written about "my world" in numerous blog entries and my essay, "So you want to write a book?" is essay 23 in And Then Some: Essays to Entertain, Motivate, & Inspire. I have been a professional writer for close to forty years. That may be why I so closely identify with this book. I wish it could have been twice as long; for me, twenty authors just wasn’t enough.
In addition to the way each of the authors answered the question, "Why do you write?" I found the format of the book both informative and instructive. That is, Maran, as the editor, begins each chapter with a quotation from one of the author’s books, provides details about each author’s "vitals" (birthday, current home, schooling, honors and awards, notable notes, as well as website, facebook, and twitter addresses), then lists the author’s "collected works." Those sections are followed by the author’s answer to the question, "Why I write," and each chapter ends with two, three, or sometimes even four "Wisdom for Writers" where each author provides specific suggestions—most useful, of course, for aspiring writers.
So many of the writers here respond to the statement, "Why I write," by saying something similar to what Sue Grafton writes, "Seriously," she says, "I write because it’s all I know how to do." James Frey says, "I’m really not qualified to do anything else." Susan Orlean says, "Writing is all I’ve ever done. I don’t think of it as a profession. It’s just who I am." Ann Patchett responds to the statement in this way: "I write because I swear to God I don’t know how to do anything else."
My personal response to the statement about why I write is multifaceted. I find numerous joys in the act of writing and the first, and most obvious, is pleasure—the pleasure I experience in having an outlet for expressing my ideas. There is pleasure, too, in capturing the abstract conceptions and notions of my mind in concrete, tangible language. A second reason I write has to do with instruction—sharing my views of the world with others. Through articles, books (mostly college textbooks), speeches, and blog essays—and the responses of others to those products—I built efficacy—the belief in my ability to produce results. In the book, in all the authors’ statements about why they write, there is (beyond their basic motivation to write) a sense of purpose. They have some overriding, all-encompassing value or set of principles that drives or compels them to continue. And what is important, too, is that it is the motivation, set of values or principles that keeps them buoyant through the hard times—when the creative well momentarily runs dry.
What the above paragraph displays is how this book forces you to look inside yourself. As I read, I conducted a wonderful, enriching, productive internal dialogue as I responded to what each author described. You see, writing gives me something to do, it rewards my needs as an independent person who enjoys autonomy, isolation, and solitude (writing is a solitary endeavor), it challenges me to think more deeply about everything, and it satisfies my need to acquire knowledge. I am forever the student. Occasionally, too, I have those moments some of these authors talk about when you, as an author, become a channel or conduit for a force greater than yourself—when all you are is a secretary (and observer) in one of the most awe-inspiring, stirring, mind-blowing occurrences in writing. The only question then is can your fingers on the keyboard keep up with the thoughts coming from your brain?
This book not only allows you inside the writer’s brain, allows you to understand the world in which they live, but it offers, too, a realistic view of the challenges, difficulties, and arduous task that writing truly is. Anyone who dreams of being an author will surely come away from reading this book with a far more grounded, reasonable, and hard-nosed assessment of what it’s all about. I absolutely loved this book, read it all in one sitting (228 pages of text in a 5 1/4" by 8" format), and wanted more—much more!
Edited by Meredith Maran
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
Truly fascinating! A sensational read! Delightful, charming, and amazing don’t fully capture my impression. Whether you are a writer, someone who wants to become a writer, or just someone interested in the remarkable world of writers, you will be as thrilled by the sincere, candid, no-nonsense, matter-of-fact candor of these authors as I was.
Now, you may quibble with my use of the phrase, "remarkable world of writers," but you will have greater appreciation for my use of the phrase when you know that I am a writer too. When I say, "remarkable world of writers," it is simply that I find so many of these authors accurately describing my world. I have written about "my world" in numerous blog entries and my essay, "So you want to write a book?" is essay 23 in And Then Some: Essays to Entertain, Motivate, & Inspire. I have been a professional writer for close to forty years. That may be why I so closely identify with this book. I wish it could have been twice as long; for me, twenty authors just wasn’t enough.
In addition to the way each of the authors answered the question, "Why do you write?" I found the format of the book both informative and instructive. That is, Maran, as the editor, begins each chapter with a quotation from one of the author’s books, provides details about each author’s "vitals" (birthday, current home, schooling, honors and awards, notable notes, as well as website, facebook, and twitter addresses), then lists the author’s "collected works." Those sections are followed by the author’s answer to the question, "Why I write," and each chapter ends with two, three, or sometimes even four "Wisdom for Writers" where each author provides specific suggestions—most useful, of course, for aspiring writers.
So many of the writers here respond to the statement, "Why I write," by saying something similar to what Sue Grafton writes, "Seriously," she says, "I write because it’s all I know how to do." James Frey says, "I’m really not qualified to do anything else." Susan Orlean says, "Writing is all I’ve ever done. I don’t think of it as a profession. It’s just who I am." Ann Patchett responds to the statement in this way: "I write because I swear to God I don’t know how to do anything else."
My personal response to the statement about why I write is multifaceted. I find numerous joys in the act of writing and the first, and most obvious, is pleasure—the pleasure I experience in having an outlet for expressing my ideas. There is pleasure, too, in capturing the abstract conceptions and notions of my mind in concrete, tangible language. A second reason I write has to do with instruction—sharing my views of the world with others. Through articles, books (mostly college textbooks), speeches, and blog essays—and the responses of others to those products—I built efficacy—the belief in my ability to produce results. In the book, in all the authors’ statements about why they write, there is (beyond their basic motivation to write) a sense of purpose. They have some overriding, all-encompassing value or set of principles that drives or compels them to continue. And what is important, too, is that it is the motivation, set of values or principles that keeps them buoyant through the hard times—when the creative well momentarily runs dry.
What the above paragraph displays is how this book forces you to look inside yourself. As I read, I conducted a wonderful, enriching, productive internal dialogue as I responded to what each author described. You see, writing gives me something to do, it rewards my needs as an independent person who enjoys autonomy, isolation, and solitude (writing is a solitary endeavor), it challenges me to think more deeply about everything, and it satisfies my need to acquire knowledge. I am forever the student. Occasionally, too, I have those moments some of these authors talk about when you, as an author, become a channel or conduit for a force greater than yourself—when all you are is a secretary (and observer) in one of the most awe-inspiring, stirring, mind-blowing occurrences in writing. The only question then is can your fingers on the keyboard keep up with the thoughts coming from your brain?
This book not only allows you inside the writer’s brain, allows you to understand the world in which they live, but it offers, too, a realistic view of the challenges, difficulties, and arduous task that writing truly is. Anyone who dreams of being an author will surely come away from reading this book with a far more grounded, reasonable, and hard-nosed assessment of what it’s all about. I absolutely loved this book, read it all in one sitting (228 pages of text in a 5 1/4" by 8" format), and wanted more—much more!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Friday Humor
We were dressed, and ready to go
out for the New Years Eve Party. We turned on a night light, turned the
answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet, and put the cat in the backyard.
We phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house.
As we walked out the door, the cat we had put out in the yard, scoots back into the house. We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird.
My wife goes on out to the taxi, while I went back inside to get the cat. The cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon, 'He's just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother.'
A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I said, as we drove away. 'That stupid bitch was hiding under the bed. I had to poke her ass with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take off, so I grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching me. But it worked! I hauled her fat ass downstairs and threw her out into the back yard!'
The cab driver hit a parked car.
We phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house.
As we walked out the door, the cat we had put out in the yard, scoots back into the house. We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird.
My wife goes on out to the taxi, while I went back inside to get the cat. The cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon, 'He's just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother.'
A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I said, as we drove away. 'That stupid bitch was hiding under the bed. I had to poke her ass with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take off, so I grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching me. But it worked! I hauled her fat ass downstairs and threw her out into the back yard!'
The cab driver hit a parked car.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Montevideo, Uruguay: Walking straight from the dock
by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
Montevideo is one of the youngest capitals in Latin America, founded between 1724 and 1730, and it did not become the capital of Uruguay until 1828. It is the Southern-most capital of the Americas. It is often considered to be a playground for Argentineans and Brazilians on their summer holidays. About half of the population of Uruguay live in Montevideo; thus, it thrives as the center of Uruguayan culture, education, business, and tourism.
Just a quick aside: Uruguay is the smallest Spanish-speaking nation in South America, and it is bounded on the west by Argentina, on the north and northeast by Brazil, and on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean.
Having been there—after writing this essay—there are several observations that can be made. First, the city does not have the "whirlwind vibe" (says our Fodor’s guide to South America (p. 673)) that Rio de Janeiro does. Second, Montevideo has many of the same traits as other large cities in South America—the downtown shopping areas, markets, pedestrian esplanades, plazas, old versus new areas of town, historic buildings, and monuments.
Our ship docked in the old city, and sitting on Deck 18 (where I wrote this essay) in Skywalker’s Nightclub, I look out over a vast array (as far as I can see!) of old-city buildings in their dark gray and beige style of "worn, colonial architecture" (p. 673). There is no doubt about their age nor about their number. They fill the area between the Puerto de Montevideo (where we are located) and the other side of this broad, short peninsula and the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver). We are docked at the end of this peninsula.
We disembarked the Star Princess at the Graff Spee Monument. The first thing you see in the harbor is the tower of the Graff Spee sticking up from the sea. The Graff Spee was a German warship that was scuttled after being denied safe harbor for repairs in Montevideo. The monument is the ship’s anchor at the main dock (gathering area) after getting off the ship.
Knowing nothing about this city or how to get around, we joined with three others, and with the help of a local police officer (who spoke no English but who was standing just outside the port gate), we were able to locate the beginning portion of La Rambla. South of the Gulf of Montevideo, La Rambla offers opportunities for people to jog, walk, bike, skateboard, roller skate, fish, fly kites, or drink maté. It stretches for 13.6 miles along the coast and is made of enormous blocks of red granite. Although we didn’t follow it, it links the Old City with the eastern suburbs and changes names about a dozen times.
The day we visited (Tuesday, February 21, 2012) was a holiday, and thus, there was no way to get a feel for the 1½ million people who live here.
As my wife and I walked to Plaza Independencia, we could clearly see, as we looked down the long, narrow streets in either direction, that we were surrounded by water. Plaza Independencia is Montevideo’s most important plaza. It splits Ciudad Vieja (the oldest part of the city) from downtown Montevideo, with the Gateway of The Citadel on one side and the beginning of 18 de Julio Avenue on the other. Many important buildings, such as the Solis Tfheatre and the workplaces of the President of Uruguay (both the Estevez Palace and the future Executive Tower) are located by this square.
Clearly visible at the Plaza Independencia is the Palacio Salvo. It is a building from which a unique designed spire rises, and it still dominates the skyline and nicely contrasts some of the newer construction around it. At the time of its construction it was the tallest building in South America, although today it has been surpassed several times over. The original intention was for it to be a grand hotel, but this never worked and now it serves as an office building.
To get to the Plaza Independencia, we strolled through the Plaza Constitution, which is located in the old city and from which you can see Montevideo’s oldest building, the Cathedral. Although the Cathedral has been restored, it still retains its colonial charm and external structure. The plaza is also home to the town hall.
Like any big city, and despite the many city workers using brooms and dust pans, there was litter and dirt, but it was not to the point of being overwhelming or disconcerting.
We walked several blocks along Av.18 De Julio —the main shopping area—but most shops were closed, and the only pedestrians we saw were cruisers. Another large cruise ship, the MSC Armonia, is docked at close to right angles with ours, and the noses of our two ships are nearly touching, so it would make sense that the city (at least in the area where we walked), would be full of cruisers.
We turned and followed the same path back to our ship so that we would have time to purchase two souvenir items: 1) an ornament we could use for our Christmas tree (my wife, for the first time ever, found an Uruguayan coin made into a key chain, and 2) a tee shirt for me (I found a black one with Montevideo embroidered in brilliant red) which cost $14.00 U.S..
In both these cases, we found the souvenir shops closest to our ship (just outside the port gates) were the cheapest and had the best selection.
Inside the large marketplace at the dock, we noticed several "elegant" restaurants. The numerous tables were set with tablecloths, crystal wine and water glasses, and silverware. Indeed, the place wreaked of "elegance"—to the extent possible in this massive, open, building, with food preparation areas clearly in view.
At the food preparation areas meat of various kinds (I saw beef, pork, and chicken) and vegetables (I saw whole red and green peppers) were cooked at about 30-40-degree angles on grills. In the center were logs burning very hot and on rotisseries near the center flames were full chickens turning slowly.
At the preparation areas a cook (or several cooks) were closely watching everything being cooked and turning things constantly. The grills were full of food.
Our overall impression of Montevideo, without having taken an excursion, is a simple one. We didn’t need an excursion. Even though the history of this place is interesting, we are likely to remember little about this port or this tiny country (excursion or not!). It is interesting, but there is nothing we saw to make it stand out.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lonely Planet offers a brief introduction to Montevideo, Uruguay
The Wikipedia website offers a great deal of information on Montevideo
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright March 7, 2013, by and Then Some Publishing LLC
Montevideo is one of the youngest capitals in Latin America, founded between 1724 and 1730, and it did not become the capital of Uruguay until 1828. It is the Southern-most capital of the Americas. It is often considered to be a playground for Argentineans and Brazilians on their summer holidays. About half of the population of Uruguay live in Montevideo; thus, it thrives as the center of Uruguayan culture, education, business, and tourism.
Just a quick aside: Uruguay is the smallest Spanish-speaking nation in South America, and it is bounded on the west by Argentina, on the north and northeast by Brazil, and on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean.
Having been there—after writing this essay—there are several observations that can be made. First, the city does not have the "whirlwind vibe" (says our Fodor’s guide to South America (p. 673)) that Rio de Janeiro does. Second, Montevideo has many of the same traits as other large cities in South America—the downtown shopping areas, markets, pedestrian esplanades, plazas, old versus new areas of town, historic buildings, and monuments.
Our ship docked in the old city, and sitting on Deck 18 (where I wrote this essay) in Skywalker’s Nightclub, I look out over a vast array (as far as I can see!) of old-city buildings in their dark gray and beige style of "worn, colonial architecture" (p. 673). There is no doubt about their age nor about their number. They fill the area between the Puerto de Montevideo (where we are located) and the other side of this broad, short peninsula and the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver). We are docked at the end of this peninsula.
We disembarked the Star Princess at the Graff Spee Monument. The first thing you see in the harbor is the tower of the Graff Spee sticking up from the sea. The Graff Spee was a German warship that was scuttled after being denied safe harbor for repairs in Montevideo. The monument is the ship’s anchor at the main dock (gathering area) after getting off the ship.
Knowing nothing about this city or how to get around, we joined with three others, and with the help of a local police officer (who spoke no English but who was standing just outside the port gate), we were able to locate the beginning portion of La Rambla. South of the Gulf of Montevideo, La Rambla offers opportunities for people to jog, walk, bike, skateboard, roller skate, fish, fly kites, or drink maté. It stretches for 13.6 miles along the coast and is made of enormous blocks of red granite. Although we didn’t follow it, it links the Old City with the eastern suburbs and changes names about a dozen times.
The day we visited (Tuesday, February 21, 2012) was a holiday, and thus, there was no way to get a feel for the 1½ million people who live here.
As my wife and I walked to Plaza Independencia, we could clearly see, as we looked down the long, narrow streets in either direction, that we were surrounded by water. Plaza Independencia is Montevideo’s most important plaza. It splits Ciudad Vieja (the oldest part of the city) from downtown Montevideo, with the Gateway of The Citadel on one side and the beginning of 18 de Julio Avenue on the other. Many important buildings, such as the Solis Tfheatre and the workplaces of the President of Uruguay (both the Estevez Palace and the future Executive Tower) are located by this square.
Clearly visible at the Plaza Independencia is the Palacio Salvo. It is a building from which a unique designed spire rises, and it still dominates the skyline and nicely contrasts some of the newer construction around it. At the time of its construction it was the tallest building in South America, although today it has been surpassed several times over. The original intention was for it to be a grand hotel, but this never worked and now it serves as an office building.
To get to the Plaza Independencia, we strolled through the Plaza Constitution, which is located in the old city and from which you can see Montevideo’s oldest building, the Cathedral. Although the Cathedral has been restored, it still retains its colonial charm and external structure. The plaza is also home to the town hall.
Like any big city, and despite the many city workers using brooms and dust pans, there was litter and dirt, but it was not to the point of being overwhelming or disconcerting.
We walked several blocks along Av.18 De Julio —the main shopping area—but most shops were closed, and the only pedestrians we saw were cruisers. Another large cruise ship, the MSC Armonia, is docked at close to right angles with ours, and the noses of our two ships are nearly touching, so it would make sense that the city (at least in the area where we walked), would be full of cruisers.
We turned and followed the same path back to our ship so that we would have time to purchase two souvenir items: 1) an ornament we could use for our Christmas tree (my wife, for the first time ever, found an Uruguayan coin made into a key chain, and 2) a tee shirt for me (I found a black one with Montevideo embroidered in brilliant red) which cost $14.00 U.S..
In both these cases, we found the souvenir shops closest to our ship (just outside the port gates) were the cheapest and had the best selection.
Inside the large marketplace at the dock, we noticed several "elegant" restaurants. The numerous tables were set with tablecloths, crystal wine and water glasses, and silverware. Indeed, the place wreaked of "elegance"—to the extent possible in this massive, open, building, with food preparation areas clearly in view.
At the food preparation areas meat of various kinds (I saw beef, pork, and chicken) and vegetables (I saw whole red and green peppers) were cooked at about 30-40-degree angles on grills. In the center were logs burning very hot and on rotisseries near the center flames were full chickens turning slowly.
At the preparation areas a cook (or several cooks) were closely watching everything being cooked and turning things constantly. The grills were full of food.
Our overall impression of Montevideo, without having taken an excursion, is a simple one. We didn’t need an excursion. Even though the history of this place is interesting, we are likely to remember little about this port or this tiny country (excursion or not!). It is interesting, but there is nothing we saw to make it stand out.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lonely Planet offers a brief introduction to Montevideo, Uruguay
The Wikipedia website offers a great deal of information on Montevideo
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright March 7, 2013, by and Then Some Publishing LLC
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Quotations by Richard L. Weaver II
We live, learn, and work in an increasingly complex and information-rich society, and to continue to do so we must be able to use technology effectively. Although it is easy to reject it all because of its intrusion into our lives, the possibilities for misuse, and all of the negative information that can be found on some of it, to do so is simply to reject its inevitability. Far better to learn, understand, and use it in the best ways we can.
The key today is to teach people how to validate the information discovered on the Internet. The idea that "if it's written, it must be true," is so deeply entrenched in our psyches, that we forget that anyone can post ANYTHING on the Internet. There are no rules, no gatekeepers, no scrutiny. Thus, great untruths (i.e., lies, fabrications, deceptions, half-truths, exaggerations, and simple misinformation) can be quickly circulated---without evidence that can be supported, sound, just or sufficient reasons for existence, and having no degree of correlation with other information or corroboration by anything else known to be true.
Find tons of quotes to inspire your journey:
SMOERs - Available at Amazon
Self Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules
The key today is to teach people how to validate the information discovered on the Internet. The idea that "if it's written, it must be true," is so deeply entrenched in our psyches, that we forget that anyone can post ANYTHING on the Internet. There are no rules, no gatekeepers, no scrutiny. Thus, great untruths (i.e., lies, fabrications, deceptions, half-truths, exaggerations, and simple misinformation) can be quickly circulated---without evidence that can be supported, sound, just or sufficient reasons for existence, and having no degree of correlation with other information or corroboration by anything else known to be true.
Find tons of quotes to inspire your journey:
SMOERs - Available at Amazon
Self Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
And Then Some News
by Anthony Weaver
Announcing a price change for three books, How to be Funny on Purpose, And Then Some Book 1, and Public Speaking Rules!
How to be Funny on Purpose:$19.95 NOW $12.95
And Then Some Book 1:$17.95 NOW $11.95
Public Speaking Rules:$17.95 NOW $12.95
We want to reintroduce you to the And Then Some philosophy: Give more, get more, want more from life! In 2006, my Dad and I started our company based on the fundamentals in these books, especially And Then Some Book 1.
The key element to How to be Funny on Purpose is a precise and practical set of instructions for turning the momentary flicker of an idea into a full-fledged and funny joke. This book breaks down why a joke is funny in timing, perception, setup, and delivery. Now just $12.95 or less at Amazon.com.
And Then Some - Book 1 is a collection of essays that lend themselves to the times when you only have a moment to spare. They are quick, positive, encouraging, fun... And Then Some! Now just $11.95 or less at Amazon.com.
Dr. Richard L. Weaver II's guide, Public Speaking Rules: All you need for a GREAT speech! gives you the confidence to give a great speech no matter your skill level. Dr. Weaver packs in the information you need to perform at your best. We have a new Kindle version coming in late Spring 2013! Public Speaking Rules at it's new price... just $12.95 or less at Amazon.com.
Thursday Essay preview: Montevideo, Uruguay: A Walk Straight from the Dock
Montevideo is one of the youngest capitals in Latin America, founded between 1724 and 1730, and it did not become the capital of Uruguay until 1828. It is the Southern-most capital of the Americas. It is often considered to be a playground for Argentineans and Brazilians on their summer holidays. About half of the population of Uruguay live in Montevideo; thus, it thrives as the center of Uruguayan culture, education, business, and tourism.
Announcing a price change for three books, How to be Funny on Purpose, And Then Some Book 1, and Public Speaking Rules!
How to be Funny on Purpose:
And Then Some Book 1:
Public Speaking Rules:
We want to reintroduce you to the And Then Some philosophy: Give more, get more, want more from life! In 2006, my Dad and I started our company based on the fundamentals in these books, especially And Then Some Book 1.
The key element to How to be Funny on Purpose is a precise and practical set of instructions for turning the momentary flicker of an idea into a full-fledged and funny joke. This book breaks down why a joke is funny in timing, perception, setup, and delivery. Now just $12.95 or less at Amazon.com.
And Then Some - Book 1 is a collection of essays that lend themselves to the times when you only have a moment to spare. They are quick, positive, encouraging, fun... And Then Some! Now just $11.95 or less at Amazon.com.
Dr. Richard L. Weaver II's guide, Public Speaking Rules: All you need for a GREAT speech! gives you the confidence to give a great speech no matter your skill level. Dr. Weaver packs in the information you need to perform at your best. We have a new Kindle version coming in late Spring 2013! Public Speaking Rules at it's new price... just $12.95 or less at Amazon.com.
Thursday Essay preview: Montevideo, Uruguay: A Walk Straight from the Dock
Montevideo is one of the youngest capitals in Latin America, founded between 1724 and 1730, and it did not become the capital of Uruguay until 1828. It is the Southern-most capital of the Americas. It is often considered to be a playground for Argentineans and Brazilians on their summer holidays. About half of the population of Uruguay live in Montevideo; thus, it thrives as the center of Uruguayan culture, education, business, and tourism.
Monday, March 4, 2013
As we speak: How to make your point and have it stick
As we speak: How to make your point and have it stick
By Peter Meyers and Shann Nix
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
This is an good book! The authors have even changed the traditional speech parts from introduction, body, and conclusion to "Ramp," "Road map" (forecasting what is to come), "Three PoDs" (points of discovery), Q&A, and Dessert. Instead of organization and outlining, the authors use the word architecture. I was pleased to see that these were the only major changes in vocabulary. The changes work fine, but, being a traditionalist, I’m not certain they add a great deal to learning how to communicate effectively.
The biggest disappointment I have with this book is the lack of an index. For example, I was looking for information on transitions, but could not find it. I thought it might be covered under the topic "architecture," but once having read about "architecture," early in the book, it was nearly impossible to get back to that section without an index to guide me.
What is especially outstanding is the large number of examples included throughout the book. The book, Public Speaking Rules: All You Need for a Great Speech, for example, offers a straightforward approach to the same topic, and like the book, The Elements of Style (which is a straightforward approach to the use of grammar and language) the book Public Speaking Rules provides the essential nuts and bolts of effective public speaking without the heavy use of examples. These two books (in this paragraph) get to the point directly and effectively. The question comes down to, how much information you need to get you to where you want to be — an effective speaker/communicator?
Incidentally, there are a large number of examples that can only come from an author’s personal experience. Meyers has a wonderful, broad, and useful background. The back flyleaf says he is "An acclaimed actor and theater director . . . currently teaches performance and leadership skills at Stanford University, Esalen Institute, and IMD-International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland." In addition to this, he is the founder of a consulting group.
The information here is easily accessible and well-presented. The authors write well. The blend of examples and advice is smooth. The specific suggestions are on target and useful.
I was intrigued by their "performance preparation pattern," and I think their inclusion of an audio exercise on their downloadable package that is designed to "put you into an ideal performance state" is an admirable addition to the book; however, I am always concerned when delivery is taught in a step-by-step manner (e.g., "1. Posture, 2. Breathe, 3. Face, 4. Movement, and 5. Gesture") I have always believed that the best policy with respect to delivery is twofold: 1) let it be natural — a natural and easy outgrowth of a person’s personality and mannerisms, and 2) let it be motivated by the ideas you are sharing.
Overall, the "Notes" section of the book was virtually useless. There were a large number of secondary sources, but there was no primary research cited of any kind. I wondered, for example, where the idea, "Eighteen minutes is the magic number," came from. That is, "Don’t talk for longer than that!" was the admonition, and the next sentence read, "Research shows that adult learners can stay tuned in to a lecture for no more than eighteen minutes before there’s a significant drop-off in attention" (p. 215). The research may very well make this point, however, that research is never footnoted, cited, or referenced in any way. (I had never heard of it before!)
The "Bibliography" used in this book does not include books used in the development of the book. Many have no use in this regard. No, the books cited in the "Bibliography" are those the authors’ have "found constructive, inspiring, and influential, from a variety of disciplines" (p. 273). I have seldom heard of a bibliography provided solely for these reasons. Usually, it is tied to the development of the ideas in the book itself.
You might be interested to know that the book is divided into three major parts: Content, Delivery, and State. And where would you suppose that writers on the art of effective communication might get most of their ideas on "State"? I could not make a guess, but I read this in the "Notes" section, "We have drawn heavily on the work of Anthony Robbins, the world’s great expert on state and how to control it" (p. 270). I’m sorry, but this comment (for me) diminishes the shine of the authors.
If you want insight into the work of motivational guru Tony Robbins, please read Barbara Ehrenreich’s wonderful and insightful book, Bright-Sided. In Kerry Howley’s review of her book, Howley writes, "In Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America, she [Ehrenreich] accuses positivity-freaks of corrupting the media, infiltrating medical science, perverting religion, and destroying the economy. She believes that life coaches and their ilk discourage critical thinking among credulous Americans."
Ehrenreich, talking specifically of Tony Robbins and others of his ilk (from Kerry Howley’s review, "Life Coaches are the Root of All Evil,") writes, "In turning the United States into a 24-hour pep rally, charges Ehrenreich, these professional cheerleaders have all but drowned out downers like ‘realism’ and ‘rationality.’ Their followers are trained to dismiss bad news rather than assimilate or reflect upon its importance. Motivators counsel an upbeat ignorance." These authors must plead guilty to Ehrenreich’s charge.
Again, this is a good book. Any book designed to offer suggestions to help people become more effective communicators should be given some respect. Having written ten editions of a beginning college textbook, Communicating Effectively (McGraw-Hill, 2012), and currently working on an eleventh, I appreciate the challenge (of helping people become more effective communicators). With the exception of their dependence on Tony Robbins and the promulgation of his techniques, I think the ideas of the authors of this book are substantive and worth consideration. I give it three stars out of five. The insights offered are not revolutionary or particularly new, but they should be helpful.
By Peter Meyers and Shann Nix
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
This is an good book! The authors have even changed the traditional speech parts from introduction, body, and conclusion to "Ramp," "Road map" (forecasting what is to come), "Three PoDs" (points of discovery), Q&A, and Dessert. Instead of organization and outlining, the authors use the word architecture. I was pleased to see that these were the only major changes in vocabulary. The changes work fine, but, being a traditionalist, I’m not certain they add a great deal to learning how to communicate effectively.
The biggest disappointment I have with this book is the lack of an index. For example, I was looking for information on transitions, but could not find it. I thought it might be covered under the topic "architecture," but once having read about "architecture," early in the book, it was nearly impossible to get back to that section without an index to guide me.
What is especially outstanding is the large number of examples included throughout the book. The book, Public Speaking Rules: All You Need for a Great Speech, for example, offers a straightforward approach to the same topic, and like the book, The Elements of Style (which is a straightforward approach to the use of grammar and language) the book Public Speaking Rules provides the essential nuts and bolts of effective public speaking without the heavy use of examples. These two books (in this paragraph) get to the point directly and effectively. The question comes down to, how much information you need to get you to where you want to be — an effective speaker/communicator?
Incidentally, there are a large number of examples that can only come from an author’s personal experience. Meyers has a wonderful, broad, and useful background. The back flyleaf says he is "An acclaimed actor and theater director . . . currently teaches performance and leadership skills at Stanford University, Esalen Institute, and IMD-International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland." In addition to this, he is the founder of a consulting group.
The information here is easily accessible and well-presented. The authors write well. The blend of examples and advice is smooth. The specific suggestions are on target and useful.
I was intrigued by their "performance preparation pattern," and I think their inclusion of an audio exercise on their downloadable package that is designed to "put you into an ideal performance state" is an admirable addition to the book; however, I am always concerned when delivery is taught in a step-by-step manner (e.g., "1. Posture, 2. Breathe, 3. Face, 4. Movement, and 5. Gesture") I have always believed that the best policy with respect to delivery is twofold: 1) let it be natural — a natural and easy outgrowth of a person’s personality and mannerisms, and 2) let it be motivated by the ideas you are sharing.
Overall, the "Notes" section of the book was virtually useless. There were a large number of secondary sources, but there was no primary research cited of any kind. I wondered, for example, where the idea, "Eighteen minutes is the magic number," came from. That is, "Don’t talk for longer than that!" was the admonition, and the next sentence read, "Research shows that adult learners can stay tuned in to a lecture for no more than eighteen minutes before there’s a significant drop-off in attention" (p. 215). The research may very well make this point, however, that research is never footnoted, cited, or referenced in any way. (I had never heard of it before!)
The "Bibliography" used in this book does not include books used in the development of the book. Many have no use in this regard. No, the books cited in the "Bibliography" are those the authors’ have "found constructive, inspiring, and influential, from a variety of disciplines" (p. 273). I have seldom heard of a bibliography provided solely for these reasons. Usually, it is tied to the development of the ideas in the book itself.
You might be interested to know that the book is divided into three major parts: Content, Delivery, and State. And where would you suppose that writers on the art of effective communication might get most of their ideas on "State"? I could not make a guess, but I read this in the "Notes" section, "We have drawn heavily on the work of Anthony Robbins, the world’s great expert on state and how to control it" (p. 270). I’m sorry, but this comment (for me) diminishes the shine of the authors.
If you want insight into the work of motivational guru Tony Robbins, please read Barbara Ehrenreich’s wonderful and insightful book, Bright-Sided. In Kerry Howley’s review of her book
Ehrenreich, talking specifically of Tony Robbins and others of his ilk (from Kerry Howley’s review, "Life Coaches are the Root of All Evil,") writes, "In turning the United States into a 24-hour pep rally, charges Ehrenreich, these professional cheerleaders have all but drowned out downers like ‘realism’ and ‘rationality.’ Their followers are trained to dismiss bad news rather than assimilate or reflect upon its importance. Motivators counsel an upbeat ignorance." These authors must plead guilty to Ehrenreich’s charge.
Again, this is a good book. Any book designed to offer suggestions to help people become more effective communicators should be given some respect. Having written ten editions of a beginning college textbook, Communicating Effectively (McGraw-Hill, 2012), and currently working on an eleventh, I appreciate the challenge (of helping people become more effective communicators). With the exception of their dependence on Tony Robbins and the promulgation of his techniques, I think the ideas of the authors of this book are substantive and worth consideration. I give it three stars out of five. The insights offered are not revolutionary or particularly new, but they should be helpful.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Friday Humor
A policeman knocked on my door this morning, but I just locked it and sat there in complete silence.
After 20 seconds he knocked again, but I just continued to ignore it.
The knocks got louder and more frequent but I was determined not to move in the hope that he would just go away.
Then he decided to look through the window.
He shouted, “Do you think I’m stupid? I can see you in there, sir. Open the door.”
I said, “You’re not coming in sir!”
He said, “I don’t want to come in, I just want you to step out of the car.”
After 20 seconds he knocked again, but I just continued to ignore it.
The knocks got louder and more frequent but I was determined not to move in the hope that he would just go away.
Then he decided to look through the window.
He shouted, “Do you think I’m stupid? I can see you in there, sir. Open the door.”
I said, “You’re not coming in sir!”
He said, “I don’t want to come in, I just want you to step out of the car.”
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