Playing for Change records street musicians from around the world
playing the same song and creates videos of the resulting mix. Mark
Johnson, the co-founder of the movement, said he started the project
“because we wanted to find something that everybody in the world could
believe in, that could inspire us to move past the things that might
divide us” and this is exactly what music can do. This time, it was the
turn of the classic “Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding.
[via facebook]
Friday, January 30, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
13 habits of likeable people
Too many people succumb to the mistaken belief that being likeable
comes from natural, unteachable traits that belong only to a lucky
few—the good looking, the fiercely social, and the incredibly talented.
It’s easy to fall prey to this misconception. In reality, being likeable
is under your control, and it’s a matter of emotional intelligence
(EQ).
In a study conducted at UCLA, subjects rated over 500 adjectives based on their perceived significance to likeability. The top-rated adjectives had nothing to do with being gregarious, intelligent, or attractive (innate characteristics). Instead, the top adjectives were sincerity, transparency, and capacity for understanding (another person).
These adjectives, and others like them, describe people who are skilled in the social side of emotional intelligence. TalentSmart research data from more than a million people shows that people who possess these skills aren’t just highly likeable, they outperform those who don’t by a large margin.
We did some digging to uncover the key behaviors that emotionally intelligent people engage in that make them so likeable. Here are 13 of the best:
They Ask Questions
The biggest mistake people make when it comes to listening is they’re so focused on what they’re going to say next or how what the other person is saying is going to affect them that they fail to hear what’s being said. The words come through loud and clear, but the meaning is lost.
A simple way to avoid this is to ask a lot of questions. People like to know you’re listening, and something as simple as a clarification question shows that not only are you listening, you also care about what they’re saying. You’ll be surprised how much respect and appreciation you gain just by asking questions.
They Don’t Pass Judgment
If you want to be likeable you must be open-minded. Being open-minded makes you approachable and interesting to others. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who has already formed an opinion and is not willing to listen.
Having an open mind is crucial in the workplace where approachability means access to new ideas and help. To eliminate preconceived notions and judgment, you need to see the world through other people’s eyes. This doesn’t require you believe what they believe or condone their behavior, it simply means you quit passing judgment long enough to truly understand what makes them tick. Only then can you let them be who they are.
They Smile
People naturally (and unconsciously) mirror the body language of the person they’re talking to. If you want people to like you, smile at them during a conversation and they will unconsciously return the favor and feel good as a result.
[and 9 more]
In a study conducted at UCLA, subjects rated over 500 adjectives based on their perceived significance to likeability. The top-rated adjectives had nothing to do with being gregarious, intelligent, or attractive (innate characteristics). Instead, the top adjectives were sincerity, transparency, and capacity for understanding (another person).
These adjectives, and others like them, describe people who are skilled in the social side of emotional intelligence. TalentSmart research data from more than a million people shows that people who possess these skills aren’t just highly likeable, they outperform those who don’t by a large margin.
We did some digging to uncover the key behaviors that emotionally intelligent people engage in that make them so likeable. Here are 13 of the best:
They Ask Questions
The biggest mistake people make when it comes to listening is they’re so focused on what they’re going to say next or how what the other person is saying is going to affect them that they fail to hear what’s being said. The words come through loud and clear, but the meaning is lost.
A simple way to avoid this is to ask a lot of questions. People like to know you’re listening, and something as simple as a clarification question shows that not only are you listening, you also care about what they’re saying. You’ll be surprised how much respect and appreciation you gain just by asking questions.
They Don’t Pass Judgment
If you want to be likeable you must be open-minded. Being open-minded makes you approachable and interesting to others. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who has already formed an opinion and is not willing to listen.
Having an open mind is crucial in the workplace where approachability means access to new ideas and help. To eliminate preconceived notions and judgment, you need to see the world through other people’s eyes. This doesn’t require you believe what they believe or condone their behavior, it simply means you quit passing judgment long enough to truly understand what makes them tick. Only then can you let them be who they are.
They Smile
People naturally (and unconsciously) mirror the body language of the person they’re talking to. If you want people to like you, smile at them during a conversation and they will unconsciously return the favor and feel good as a result.
[and 9 more]
Monday, January 26, 2015
the darker side of Buddhism
Most people assume Buddhism is intimately associated with peace. And because of this, some wonder if Buddhism is superior to other world religions, especially in the wake of the killings at the office of a satirical newspaper in Paris.
There is indeed a close connection between Buddhism and peace, as the first precept in Buddhism prohibits killing or causing harm. But like other faiths, there is a darker, violent side to the religion as well.
Upayakausalya (Skill in Means) Sutra tells the story of a past life of the Buddha, where he is captain of a boat carrying 500 merchants. In a dream one night, deities inform him that one of the passengers is a bandit who is planning to kill all the merchants.
The Buddha considers three possible actions: Do nothing and allow the bandit to kill everyone; inform the merchants, who would then kill the bandit themselves and incur evil karma for their murder as a result, or kill the bandit himself. The Buddha ponders this ethical dilemma for several days, and eventually decides to murder the bandit himself. The sutra does not interpret this as retribution for evil, but as an act of compassion that saves the bandit from the horrible karmic consequences of mass murder, and allows the bandit to be reborn in heaven.
A distinction is made between allowing the merchants to kill the bandit in anger, which would result in their rebirth in hell, and the Buddha’s murder with “great compassion” and “skillful means,” which saves everyone.
In short, violence is justifiable when performed by the Buddhas and Buddhists, but condemned when committed by non-Buddhists. This, in part, explains Buddhist complicity in wars throughout Asian history.
...
My wife denies Buddhists can practice their faith and be violent. In this way, she is like my Muslim friends who claim the Quran is misread when used to justify violence. Or like my Christian friends who claim Jesus only preached tolerance and family values.
A closer look at their religious traditions would reveal otherwise.
There is no hypocrisy here, though. When it comes to committing violent acts or hateful behavior, decent people of religious faith are either unaware of the violent and appalling passages in their scriptural tradition or know them but — thankfully — reinterpret them or reject them outright. Decent people are still peaceful and tolerant, even when strands within their religious traditions encourage them to be otherwise.
My wife respects the faith of others (though some do not respect hers in return). She is a decent person and a pretend Buddhist.
The world should be filled with religious pretenders.
-- Jay Sakashita, Midweek, January 21, 2015
There is indeed a close connection between Buddhism and peace, as the first precept in Buddhism prohibits killing or causing harm. But like other faiths, there is a darker, violent side to the religion as well.
Upayakausalya (Skill in Means) Sutra tells the story of a past life of the Buddha, where he is captain of a boat carrying 500 merchants. In a dream one night, deities inform him that one of the passengers is a bandit who is planning to kill all the merchants.
The Buddha considers three possible actions: Do nothing and allow the bandit to kill everyone; inform the merchants, who would then kill the bandit themselves and incur evil karma for their murder as a result, or kill the bandit himself. The Buddha ponders this ethical dilemma for several days, and eventually decides to murder the bandit himself. The sutra does not interpret this as retribution for evil, but as an act of compassion that saves the bandit from the horrible karmic consequences of mass murder, and allows the bandit to be reborn in heaven.
A distinction is made between allowing the merchants to kill the bandit in anger, which would result in their rebirth in hell, and the Buddha’s murder with “great compassion” and “skillful means,” which saves everyone.
In short, violence is justifiable when performed by the Buddhas and Buddhists, but condemned when committed by non-Buddhists. This, in part, explains Buddhist complicity in wars throughout Asian history.
...
My wife denies Buddhists can practice their faith and be violent. In this way, she is like my Muslim friends who claim the Quran is misread when used to justify violence. Or like my Christian friends who claim Jesus only preached tolerance and family values.
A closer look at their religious traditions would reveal otherwise.
There is no hypocrisy here, though. When it comes to committing violent acts or hateful behavior, decent people of religious faith are either unaware of the violent and appalling passages in their scriptural tradition or know them but — thankfully — reinterpret them or reject them outright. Decent people are still peaceful and tolerant, even when strands within their religious traditions encourage them to be otherwise.
My wife respects the faith of others (though some do not respect hers in return). She is a decent person and a pretend Buddhist.
The world should be filled with religious pretenders.
-- Jay Sakashita, Midweek, January 21, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
$4.9 million?
YouTube
provides hours of entertainment for many, but for a select few it also
means millions of dollars in advertising revenue. YouTube allows certain
content creators to monetize their videos through their “YouTube Partner Program,” which means ads will play before or around a video, and the content creator will be paid through an AdSense account.
Some of the top earners include Taylor Swift, EMI Music, and the WWE. The number one earner, however, is a woman who makes videos of herself unboxing Disney (DIS) toys -- and according to OpenSlate, she made $4.9 million in 2014 from YouTube ads alone.
Some of the top earners include Taylor Swift, EMI Music, and the WWE. The number one earner, however, is a woman who makes videos of herself unboxing Disney (DIS) toys -- and according to OpenSlate, she made $4.9 million in 2014 from YouTube ads alone.
The channel, DisneyCollectorBR, features hundreds of videos of well-manicured hands opening Disney toys and an accented voice describing what’s inside of the packaging. We never see the owner’s face and her identity is a mystery.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Career Success
It has been over three years since Steve Jobs died.
Since then, books have been written and movies have been made.
Each has celebrated his legacy and aimed to share the secrets he used to build the largest company in the world; things like attention to detail, attracting world-class talent and holding them to high standards.
We think we understand what caused his success.
We don’t.
We dismiss usable principles of success by labeling them as personality quirks.
What’s often missed is the paradoxical interplay of two of his seemingly opposite qualities; maniacal focus and insatiable curiosity. These weren’t just two random strengths. They may have been his most important as they helped lead to everything else.
Since then, books have been written and movies have been made.
Each has celebrated his legacy and aimed to share the secrets he used to build the largest company in the world; things like attention to detail, attracting world-class talent and holding them to high standards.
We think we understand what caused his success.
We don’t.
We dismiss usable principles of success by labeling them as personality quirks.
What’s often missed is the paradoxical interplay of two of his seemingly opposite qualities; maniacal focus and insatiable curiosity. These weren’t just two random strengths. They may have been his most important as they helped lead to everything else.
Bill Gates Annual Letter 2015
We're putting our credibility, time, and money behind this bet — and
asking others to join us — because we think there has never been a
better time to accelerate progress and have a big impact around the
world.
Some will say we're irrational to make this bet too. A skeptic would look at the world's problems and conclude that things are only getting worse. And we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that a handful of the worst-off countries will continue to struggle.
But we think the next 15 years will see major breakthroughs for most people in poor countries. They will be living longer and in better health. They will have unprecedented opportunities to get an education, eat nutritious food, and benefit from mobile banking. These breakthroughs will be driven by innovation in technology — ranging from new vaccines and hardier crops to much cheaper smartphones and tablets — and by innovations that help deliver those things to more people.
The rich world will keep getting exciting new advances too, but the improvements in the lives of the poor will be far more fundamental — the basics of a healthy, productive life. It's great that more people in rich countries will be able to watch movies on super hi-resolution screens. It's even better that more parents in poor countries will know their children aren't going to die.
[via twitter]
[1/23/15] How to narrow the gap of inequality
Some will say we're irrational to make this bet too. A skeptic would look at the world's problems and conclude that things are only getting worse. And we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that a handful of the worst-off countries will continue to struggle.
But we think the next 15 years will see major breakthroughs for most people in poor countries. They will be living longer and in better health. They will have unprecedented opportunities to get an education, eat nutritious food, and benefit from mobile banking. These breakthroughs will be driven by innovation in technology — ranging from new vaccines and hardier crops to much cheaper smartphones and tablets — and by innovations that help deliver those things to more people.
The rich world will keep getting exciting new advances too, but the improvements in the lives of the poor will be far more fundamental — the basics of a healthy, productive life. It's great that more people in rich countries will be able to watch movies on super hi-resolution screens. It's even better that more parents in poor countries will know their children aren't going to die.
[via twitter]
[1/23/15] How to narrow the gap of inequality
Monday, January 19, 2015
Unbroken
Like many who have read Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken,
the impeccably researched story of Olympic runner Louie Zamperini, the
film version was greatly anticipated — even more so for my wife Susan
and me, because we were part of a small, ad-hoc group that organized
Zamperini’s visit to Oahu a few years ago when he spoke to several
hundred Marines and sailors aboard the USS Missouri.
The story, briefly, is of a bright, high-spirited, live-onthe-edge kid raised in the small town of Torrance, Calif. Because he was frequently in trouble with local cops for petty crimes, he learned how to run very fast. He honed his running skills to the point of eventually making the varsity track squad at University of Southern California, and qualifying for the 1936 U.S. Olympic team to compete in Germany. He was a shoo-in for the 1940 team to compete in Japan, but the onset of World War II made those games impossible, so instead — like many of his “Greatest Generation” contemporaries — he enlisted in the military.
In May of 1947, as an Army Air Corps bombardier, his crippled, Hawaii-based B-24 bomber crashed into the Pacific. He and a fellow crewman survived in a rubber life raft, drifting westward for 47 days. Ultimately, they were captured by a Japanese patrol boat, then transferred to a prison ship to Japan, where they were POWs for the next two years.
Zamperini’s time as a POW was made even more hellish by a certain Japanese prison commander, who knew of Zamperini’s Olympic experience and immediately detected the American’s defiant attitude. “The Bird,” as he was known by the POWs, hounded him mercilessly, administering frequent beatings without reason. He singled him out for the hardest prison work details, grinding him down physically and mentally. “Zamp” became obsessed by his hatred for The Bird, vowing revenge no matter how far off in the future.
The war ended in August 1945. The POWs were repatriated, and Zamp’s homecoming with his family was all he had hoped for. Because of his Olympian fame, he got more press and adoration than the average returnee. There was enormous interest in hearing him speak. He soon met and married a 20-year-old beauty named Cynthia Applewhite. He couldn’t believe his good fortune when she accepted his proposal. Even then, he doubted his worthiness.
This was only the first of many doubts that would haunt him. The social whirl and demand for his presence started going to his head. He started drinking more of the drinks people wanted to buy him. Soon he was adding whiskey to a normal cup of coffee at breakfast. He had become more and more obsessed by his hatred for The Bird. He would plot in his stupored mind how he would return to Japan to hunt down and kill The Bird. He had nightmares about his POW days.
He began to mistreat Cynthia, who was now pregnant. She attended a revival session, held in a tent near their Hollywood apartment. She urged Louie to come and listen to the words of a young preacher named Billy Graham. He did, but when Graham announced the alter call, Louie “took Cynthia by the arm and bulled their way from the tent.” When she threatened divorce, he gave in once more. The next night, when Graham invited the alter call, Louie stood up in that back row of the tent ready for another fast exit. But suddenly he had a flashback: He was lying on the bottom of a rubber raft, and he recalled a promise he had forgotten until that very moment: “God, if you will save me, I will serve you for the rest of my life.” This was the last flashback he would ever have.
The next morning he lay still next to Cynthia. As Hillenbrand wrote: “What was resonating with him now was not all that he had suffered, but the divine love he believed had intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man Bird had striven to make of him. In a single silent moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness had fallen away. That morning he believed he was a new creation. Softly, he wept.”
The shame is that the movie ended right after his release from the Japanese prison and portrayed none of his struggle to forgive and move on — a struggle in many ways more difficult than the years as a POW. Ultimately, the message of Unbroken is about the redeeming qualities of forgiveness. All of this was only summarized in three brief paragraphs of script at the end of the film — a real disappointment for those who had read the book.
-- Jerry Coffee, Midweek January 14, 2015
The story, briefly, is of a bright, high-spirited, live-onthe-edge kid raised in the small town of Torrance, Calif. Because he was frequently in trouble with local cops for petty crimes, he learned how to run very fast. He honed his running skills to the point of eventually making the varsity track squad at University of Southern California, and qualifying for the 1936 U.S. Olympic team to compete in Germany. He was a shoo-in for the 1940 team to compete in Japan, but the onset of World War II made those games impossible, so instead — like many of his “Greatest Generation” contemporaries — he enlisted in the military.
In May of 1947, as an Army Air Corps bombardier, his crippled, Hawaii-based B-24 bomber crashed into the Pacific. He and a fellow crewman survived in a rubber life raft, drifting westward for 47 days. Ultimately, they were captured by a Japanese patrol boat, then transferred to a prison ship to Japan, where they were POWs for the next two years.
Zamperini’s time as a POW was made even more hellish by a certain Japanese prison commander, who knew of Zamperini’s Olympic experience and immediately detected the American’s defiant attitude. “The Bird,” as he was known by the POWs, hounded him mercilessly, administering frequent beatings without reason. He singled him out for the hardest prison work details, grinding him down physically and mentally. “Zamp” became obsessed by his hatred for The Bird, vowing revenge no matter how far off in the future.
The war ended in August 1945. The POWs were repatriated, and Zamp’s homecoming with his family was all he had hoped for. Because of his Olympian fame, he got more press and adoration than the average returnee. There was enormous interest in hearing him speak. He soon met and married a 20-year-old beauty named Cynthia Applewhite. He couldn’t believe his good fortune when she accepted his proposal. Even then, he doubted his worthiness.
This was only the first of many doubts that would haunt him. The social whirl and demand for his presence started going to his head. He started drinking more of the drinks people wanted to buy him. Soon he was adding whiskey to a normal cup of coffee at breakfast. He had become more and more obsessed by his hatred for The Bird. He would plot in his stupored mind how he would return to Japan to hunt down and kill The Bird. He had nightmares about his POW days.
He began to mistreat Cynthia, who was now pregnant. She attended a revival session, held in a tent near their Hollywood apartment. She urged Louie to come and listen to the words of a young preacher named Billy Graham. He did, but when Graham announced the alter call, Louie “took Cynthia by the arm and bulled their way from the tent.” When she threatened divorce, he gave in once more. The next night, when Graham invited the alter call, Louie stood up in that back row of the tent ready for another fast exit. But suddenly he had a flashback: He was lying on the bottom of a rubber raft, and he recalled a promise he had forgotten until that very moment: “God, if you will save me, I will serve you for the rest of my life.” This was the last flashback he would ever have.
The next morning he lay still next to Cynthia. As Hillenbrand wrote: “What was resonating with him now was not all that he had suffered, but the divine love he believed had intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man Bird had striven to make of him. In a single silent moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness had fallen away. That morning he believed he was a new creation. Softly, he wept.”
The shame is that the movie ended right after his release from the Japanese prison and portrayed none of his struggle to forgive and move on — a struggle in many ways more difficult than the years as a POW. Ultimately, the message of Unbroken is about the redeeming qualities of forgiveness. All of this was only summarized in three brief paragraphs of script at the end of the film — a real disappointment for those who had read the book.
-- Jerry Coffee, Midweek January 14, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Mike Huckabee and Beyoncé
Has anyone else noticed how Mike Huckabee can’t stop talking about Beyoncé?
First, he comments that her husband, Jay-Z, is undoubtedly “exploiting his wife” like a “pimp” (for all the reasons this is wrong, see my colleague Alyssa Rosenberg) and that her dance moves belong in the “bedroom.”
But he won’t stop! He told People that he can’t believe the Obamas let their daughters listen to her music, whose lyrics he has called “obnoxious and toxic mental poison.” (That would be a passable album title.) “I don’t understand,” he told the magazine, “how on one hand they can be such doting parents and so careful about the intake of everything — how much broccoli they eat and where they go to school … and yet they don’t see anything that might not be suitable” in Beyoncé’s lyrics.
Mike, is everything all right? What has brought on this fixation?
Some theories about what led to this moment:
-- by Alexandra Petri, Washington Post
First, he comments that her husband, Jay-Z, is undoubtedly “exploiting his wife” like a “pimp” (for all the reasons this is wrong, see my colleague Alyssa Rosenberg) and that her dance moves belong in the “bedroom.”
But he won’t stop! He told People that he can’t believe the Obamas let their daughters listen to her music, whose lyrics he has called “obnoxious and toxic mental poison.” (That would be a passable album title.) “I don’t understand,” he told the magazine, “how on one hand they can be such doting parents and so careful about the intake of everything — how much broccoli they eat and where they go to school … and yet they don’t see anything that might not be suitable” in Beyoncé’s lyrics.
Mike, is everything all right? What has brought on this fixation?
Some theories about what led to this moment:
-- by Alexandra Petri, Washington Post
Monday, January 12, 2015
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Berlantiverse
Since it was announced that Warner Television and DC Comics were working with Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern, Arrow, The Flash) and CBS to develop a new DC Comics television series starring Supergirl, the Kryptonian cousin of Superman, it was widely specualted as to whether or not Supergirl would exist in the same universe as Arrow and The Flash, since the shows would be airing on different networks. Well, there is no longer any speculation. It has been confirmed that Executive Producer Greg Berlanti does indeed to have Supergirl set in the same universe as his CW shows, which most refer to the DC Television Universe but which I have taken to calling the Berlantiverse.
foods that you shouldn't refrigerate
10 foods you should never keep in the refrigerator
coffee
onions - however after cutting refrigerating is a must
potatoes - should be stored in paper bags
bread - if you are not able to eat the bread within four days after opening, put it in the freezer
honey - it can be frozen, but not refrigerated
winter squash - however summer squash like zucchini needs refigeration
tomatoes - only refrigerate once cut into
garlic - keep in a dry place, the shelf life decreases as you start removing its cloves
hot sauce
stone fruit - fruit such as plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines will ripen best outside of the refrigerator
Huffington Post's list (only three)
potatoes
tomatoes
onions
Huffington Post (10)
tomatoes
basil
potatoes
onions
avocados
garlic
bread
olive oil
coffee
honey
LifeHack 12 foods
oils
coffee
tomatoes
onions
potatoes
bananas
honey
garlic
melon
avocado
breads
fresh herbs
I'm surprised they didn't mention peanut butter
eatingwell has it on their list to refrigerate
natural peanut butter
whole wheat flour
nuts
oils
butter
(now I see a similar entry I made in July :)
coffee
onions - however after cutting refrigerating is a must
potatoes - should be stored in paper bags
bread - if you are not able to eat the bread within four days after opening, put it in the freezer
honey - it can be frozen, but not refrigerated
winter squash - however summer squash like zucchini needs refigeration
tomatoes - only refrigerate once cut into
garlic - keep in a dry place, the shelf life decreases as you start removing its cloves
hot sauce
stone fruit - fruit such as plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines will ripen best outside of the refrigerator
Huffington Post's list (only three)
potatoes
tomatoes
onions
Huffington Post (10)
tomatoes
basil
potatoes
onions
avocados
garlic
bread
olive oil
coffee
honey
LifeHack 12 foods
oils
coffee
tomatoes
onions
potatoes
bananas
honey
garlic
melon
avocado
breads
fresh herbs
I'm surprised they didn't mention peanut butter
eatingwell has it on their list to refrigerate
natural peanut butter
whole wheat flour
nuts
oils
butter
(now I see a similar entry I made in July :)
Friday, January 09, 2015
use pineapple juice as cough syrup
When it comes to treating persistent cough and cold, pineapple juice can soothe a sore throat and helps to cough out all the stubborn mucus. One study that compared over-the-counter cough syrup and pineapple extract showed that pineapple was five times more effective. Patients recovered 4.8 times quicker when taking the natural pineapple remedy, and had an overall improvement in their cold symptoms.
In 2010, a group of Indian scientists looked into different treatments for tuberculosis. They discovered that a mixture of pineapple juice, raw honey, pepper and salt helped to dissolve the mucus in the patient’s lungs.
When you reach for pineapple juice as your healing modality, it is important to get unprocessed natural juice. Store-bought brands often contain a lot of sugar and not much real fruit. If you have a juicer at home, the best option is to make your own fresh juice. Just follow this simple recipe:
[via paula]
In 2010, a group of Indian scientists looked into different treatments for tuberculosis. They discovered that a mixture of pineapple juice, raw honey, pepper and salt helped to dissolve the mucus in the patient’s lungs.
When you reach for pineapple juice as your healing modality, it is important to get unprocessed natural juice. Store-bought brands often contain a lot of sugar and not much real fruit. If you have a juicer at home, the best option is to make your own fresh juice. Just follow this simple recipe:
- 1 cup of fresh pineapple juice
- A quarter of a cup of fresh lemon juice
- Some fresh ginger
- A tablespoon of raw organic honey
- Half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- You can also add some turmeric (this will help with your digestion)
[via paula]
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
The Human Diet
Friday, January 02, 2015
unlock your true destiny
Seven Keys to Unlocking Your True Destiny:
• You are destined to be happy and successful: Don’t let circumstances, situations or people tell you otherwise. See obstacles as challenges instead of impossibilities.
• Become the person you already are: Find and cultivate the real you instead of conforming to the expectations of others.
• Don’t look back and don’t look forward. Look around instead: Take time to enjoy the present moment and appreciate the places and people that surround you.
• Your relationships reflect who you are: Improving relationships begins with improving yourself and valuing others.
• Find hope and trust in the source of life that is within you and greater than you. Let it empower you and be your strength during difficult times.
• Be a gift to others: You are unique and no one else can offer what you can.
• Give me money: Great gains involve sacrifice. Reset your priorities and demonstrate that you are not bound to material wealth. You will be blessed with an abundance of it in return.
The above points are rubbish. I created this list in five minutes before I could even finish the drink in my big red plastic cup. [Well, I thought that last one seemed a little odd.] The above “keys” are similar to strategies presented in self-help books and workshops (and in some religious groups, too) and, as such, they should be viewed with a critical eye.
-- Jay Sakashita, Midweek, 12/24/14
• You are destined to be happy and successful: Don’t let circumstances, situations or people tell you otherwise. See obstacles as challenges instead of impossibilities.
• Become the person you already are: Find and cultivate the real you instead of conforming to the expectations of others.
• Don’t look back and don’t look forward. Look around instead: Take time to enjoy the present moment and appreciate the places and people that surround you.
• Your relationships reflect who you are: Improving relationships begins with improving yourself and valuing others.
• Find hope and trust in the source of life that is within you and greater than you. Let it empower you and be your strength during difficult times.
• Be a gift to others: You are unique and no one else can offer what you can.
• Give me money: Great gains involve sacrifice. Reset your priorities and demonstrate that you are not bound to material wealth. You will be blessed with an abundance of it in return.
The above points are rubbish. I created this list in five minutes before I could even finish the drink in my big red plastic cup. [Well, I thought that last one seemed a little odd.] The above “keys” are similar to strategies presented in self-help books and workshops (and in some religious groups, too) and, as such, they should be viewed with a critical eye.
-- Jay Sakashita, Midweek, 12/24/14
Donna Douglas
Donna Douglas, star of hit show The Beverly Hillbillies, passed away Thursday night. She was 81.
Her granddaughter confirms to TMZ that she died at her home in Louisiana surrounded by friends and family. She starred on the CBS show for all nine seasons and returned for a reunion TV movie in 1981. In addition to playing Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas appeared in several other hit shows, including The Twilight Zone, Mister Ed and Route 66. She also co-starred with Elvis Presley in Frankie and Johnny.
Her big break came in 1962 when was cast as Elly May Clampett.
"No one ever had to tell me how to play Elly May when that part came along," Douglas told The Advocate. "They asked me if I could milk a goat and I said 'sure!' I knew everything about her. When I got that part, I thought my little heart would pop open."
***
For Donna Douglas, it sounds as though art really did reflect life in a way.
The actress died Thursday at the age of 81 at her home in Louisiana and, while she was easily most famous for playing Elly May Clampett, the beautiful fish-out-of-water niece of an accidental oilman on The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas enjoyed a fruitful career and in later years reflected on having had the type of life that she never would have dared to dream of having.
Still vivacious and famously platinum-blond, Douglas sat down with E! News back in 2000 and talked about her own small-town roots, none of which made her think she'd one day be a Hollywood star.
***
The Thanksgiving episode
Her granddaughter confirms to TMZ that she died at her home in Louisiana surrounded by friends and family. She starred on the CBS show for all nine seasons and returned for a reunion TV movie in 1981. In addition to playing Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas appeared in several other hit shows, including The Twilight Zone, Mister Ed and Route 66. She also co-starred with Elvis Presley in Frankie and Johnny.
Her big break came in 1962 when was cast as Elly May Clampett.
"No one ever had to tell me how to play Elly May when that part came along," Douglas told The Advocate. "They asked me if I could milk a goat and I said 'sure!' I knew everything about her. When I got that part, I thought my little heart would pop open."
***
For Donna Douglas, it sounds as though art really did reflect life in a way.
The actress died Thursday at the age of 81 at her home in Louisiana and, while she was easily most famous for playing Elly May Clampett, the beautiful fish-out-of-water niece of an accidental oilman on The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas enjoyed a fruitful career and in later years reflected on having had the type of life that she never would have dared to dream of having.
Still vivacious and famously platinum-blond, Douglas sat down with E! News back in 2000 and talked about her own small-town roots, none of which made her think she'd one day be a Hollywood star.
***
The Thanksgiving episode
Monday, December 22, 2014
Joe Cocker
Singer Joe Cocker, best
known for his cover of the Beatles' With A Little Help From My Friends,
has died aged 70, his agent has confirmed.
His agent Barrie Marshall said Cocker, who died after battling lung cancer, was "simply unique".
Sir Paul McCartney said he was a lovely guy who "brought so much to the world".
Known for his gritty voice, Cocker began his singing career in the pubs and clubs of Sheffield in the 1960s before hitting the big time.
He was propelled to pop stardom when his version of The Beatles' With A Little Help from My Friends reached number one in 1968.
He performed the song at the famous Woodstock Festival in New York state a year later.
He was also well-known for his "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" Tour of 1970, which featured over 40 musicians touring 48 cities across the US, resulting in a third gold album of the same name and a concert film.
His duet with Jennifer Warnes, Up Where We Belong - from An Officer And A Gentleman - hit number one and went on to win both a Grammy and an Academy Award in 1983.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Dr. Oz is right, up to 85% of the time
It’s not hard to understand what makes Dr. Oz so popular. Called “America’s doctor,”
syndicated talk-show host Mehmet Oz speaks in a way anyone can
understand. Medicine may be complex. But with Dr. Oz, clad in scrubs and
crooning to millions of viewers about “miracles” and “revolutionary”
breakthroughs, it’s often not. He somehow makes it fun. And people can’t
get enough.
“I haven’t seen a doctor in eight years,” the New Yorker quoted one viewer telling Oz. “I’m scared. You’re the only one I trust.”
But is that trust misplaced? Or has Oz, who often peddles miracle cures for weight loss and other maladies, mortgaged medical veracity for entertainment value?
These questions have hammered Oz for months. In June, he was hauled in front of Congress, where Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told him he gave people false hope and criticized his segments as a “recipe for disaster.” Then last month, a study he widely trumpeted lauding coffee bean weight-loss pills was retracted despite Oz’s assertions it could “burn fat fast for anyone who wants to lose weight.”
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) questioned TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz about his claims that certain products are "miracle" workers during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on June 18, 2014 (Senator Claire McCaskill via YouTube)
The
study is part of an ongoing debate about medicine on television.
There’s clearly a market for doctor talk shows. “The Dr. Oz Show” ranks
in the top five talk shows in the United States, bringing in a haul of
roughly 2.9 million viewers per day. And the talk show “The Doctors,”
also studied in the paper, nets around 2.3 million viewers per show.
These days, Oz considers disease in terms of marketability. Cancer, he told the New Yorker, “is our Angelina Jolie. We could sell that show every day.”
But some doctors have expressed alarm at Oz’s willingness to sell it. “Although perhaps not as ‘sexy’ as Dr. Oz would like, the public needs more information about the effects of diet as a whole on cancer risk,” commented one paper titled “Reality Check: There is no such thing as a miracle food” in the journal of Nutrition and Cancer. It lambasted Oz’s assertion that endive, red onion and sea bass can decrease the likelihood of ovarian cancer by 75 percent.
“Mehmet is now an entertainer,” New York doctor Eric Rose told the New Yorker. “And he’s great at it. People learn a lot, and it can be meaningful in their lives. … [But] sometimes Mehmet will entertain wacky ideas — particularly if they are wacky and have entertainment value.”
Oz, for his part, said he’s only trying to give people all the options out there. He said data shouldn’t stop patients from testing out things like raspberry ketone — a “miracle in a bottle to burn your fat” — even if it’s never been tested on people, according to Slate. “I recognize that oftentimes they don’t have the scientific muster to present as fact,” Oz said at a U.S. Senate hearing, adding that he “personally believes in the items I talk about in my show.” “But, nevertheless, I give my audience the advice I give my family all the time. I give my family these products, specifically the ones you mentioned. I’m comfortable with that part.”
But researchers with the British Medical Journal weren’t nearly so comfortable. They selected 40 episodes from last year, identifying 479 separate medical recommendations. After paging through the relevant medical research, they found evidence only supported 46 percent of his recommendations, contradicted 15 percent and wasn’t available for 39 percent.
The study was not without its limitations, however. The researchers conceded it was difficult to parse “what was said and what was implied.” And some of the recommendations were extremely general — “sneezing into your elbow prevents the spread of germs” — and consequently difficult to find in medical research, let alone substantiate.
Still, the article was a withering assessment of Oz and the whole doctor talk show business. “Consumers should be skeptical about any recommendations provided on television medical talk shows, as details are limited and only a third to one half of recommendations are based on believable or somewhat believable evidence,” the paper said. “… Decisions around healthcare issues are often challenging and require much more than non-specific recommendations based on little or no evidence.”
But Oz considers himself an iconoclast trying to shake up a stodgy medical community. “Much of medicine is just plain old logic,” he told the New Yorker. “So I am out there trying to persuade people to be patients. And that often means telling them what the establishment doesn’t want to hear: that their answers are not only the answers, and their medicine is not the only medicine.”
***
(NaturalNews) The pro-pharma, anti-nutrition mainstream media is engaged in an all-out panic over the success of Dr. Oz in teaching nutrition and disease prevention to the American public. Not surprisingly, all the usual suspects -- media outlets funded by Big Pharma advertising money -- have unleashed a wave of hit pieces against Dr. Oz, claiming his advice is "unproven."
This is rather hilarious from the outset, considering the irrefutable fact that nearly all the most popular drugs don't work on most people. The FDA will approve a drug for a disease based on a mere 5% efficacy rate, meaning the drug doesn't work for 95% of subjects. Flu shots, even when they do work unlike the failed flu shots formulated this year, only prevent the flu in about 1 out of 100 people who receive the shots. So almost 99% of the people who take them receive no benefit (but they do get the extra bonus of mercury, as flu shots administered in the USA still contain this toxic heavy metal which is intentionally added to the formulations). I verified this myself via ICP-MS laboratory instrumentation that conducts mass spectrometry elemental analysis using a quadrupole mass analyzer. (See Labs.NaturalNews.com)
All the media outlets attacking Dr. Oz also have extreme conflicts of interest which they routinely fail to mention: they all take money from drug companies in the form of drug-pushing ads. Nearly all the top drug companies running those ads have criminal records and histories of repeatedly committing felony crimes against the people of the world. For example, GlaxoSmithKline admitted guilt in a massive bribery scheme where they paid off 44,000 doctors in the USA to push their drugs. Most of that bribery went to doctors who prescribed drugs OFF-LABEL, meaning the drugs were prescribed for disease symptoms and conditions for which they were never approved by the FDA.
Those prescriptions, in other words, were backed by ZERO scientific evidence. This is the dirty little secret of the drug industry, and the mainstream media completely ignores this massive fraud taking place across the western medical industrial complex: Most drugs prescribed today have never been tested nor approved for the health conditions for which they are prescribed. This little-recognized fact turns most of the drug industry into nothing more than a high-profit quack fest.
“I haven’t seen a doctor in eight years,” the New Yorker quoted one viewer telling Oz. “I’m scared. You’re the only one I trust.”
But is that trust misplaced? Or has Oz, who often peddles miracle cures for weight loss and other maladies, mortgaged medical veracity for entertainment value?
These questions have hammered Oz for months. In June, he was hauled in front of Congress, where Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told him he gave people false hope and criticized his segments as a “recipe for disaster.” Then last month, a study he widely trumpeted lauding coffee bean weight-loss pills was retracted despite Oz’s assertions it could “burn fat fast for anyone who wants to lose weight.”
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) questioned TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz about his claims that certain products are "miracle" workers during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on June 18, 2014 (Senator Claire McCaskill via YouTube)
And now, his work has come under even greater scrutiny in the British Medical Journal, which on Wednesday published a study analyzing
Oz’s claims along with those made on another medical talk show. What
they found wasn’t reassuring. The researchers, led by Christina Korownyk
of the University of Alberta, charged medical research either didn’t substantiate — or flat out contradicted — more than half of Oz’s
recommendations. “Recommendations made on medical talk shows often lack
adequate information on specific benefits or the magnitude of the
effects of these benefits,” the article said. “… The public should be skeptical about recommendations made on medical talk shows.”
But some doctors have expressed alarm at Oz’s willingness to sell it. “Although perhaps not as ‘sexy’ as Dr. Oz would like, the public needs more information about the effects of diet as a whole on cancer risk,” commented one paper titled “Reality Check: There is no such thing as a miracle food” in the journal of Nutrition and Cancer. It lambasted Oz’s assertion that endive, red onion and sea bass can decrease the likelihood of ovarian cancer by 75 percent.
“Mehmet is now an entertainer,” New York doctor Eric Rose told the New Yorker. “And he’s great at it. People learn a lot, and it can be meaningful in their lives. … [But] sometimes Mehmet will entertain wacky ideas — particularly if they are wacky and have entertainment value.”
Oz, for his part, said he’s only trying to give people all the options out there. He said data shouldn’t stop patients from testing out things like raspberry ketone — a “miracle in a bottle to burn your fat” — even if it’s never been tested on people, according to Slate. “I recognize that oftentimes they don’t have the scientific muster to present as fact,” Oz said at a U.S. Senate hearing, adding that he “personally believes in the items I talk about in my show.” “But, nevertheless, I give my audience the advice I give my family all the time. I give my family these products, specifically the ones you mentioned. I’m comfortable with that part.”
But researchers with the British Medical Journal weren’t nearly so comfortable. They selected 40 episodes from last year, identifying 479 separate medical recommendations. After paging through the relevant medical research, they found evidence only supported 46 percent of his recommendations, contradicted 15 percent and wasn’t available for 39 percent.
The study was not without its limitations, however. The researchers conceded it was difficult to parse “what was said and what was implied.” And some of the recommendations were extremely general — “sneezing into your elbow prevents the spread of germs” — and consequently difficult to find in medical research, let alone substantiate.
Still, the article was a withering assessment of Oz and the whole doctor talk show business. “Consumers should be skeptical about any recommendations provided on television medical talk shows, as details are limited and only a third to one half of recommendations are based on believable or somewhat believable evidence,” the paper said. “… Decisions around healthcare issues are often challenging and require much more than non-specific recommendations based on little or no evidence.”
But Oz considers himself an iconoclast trying to shake up a stodgy medical community. “Much of medicine is just plain old logic,” he told the New Yorker. “So I am out there trying to persuade people to be patients. And that often means telling them what the establishment doesn’t want to hear: that their answers are not only the answers, and their medicine is not the only medicine.”
***
(NaturalNews) The pro-pharma, anti-nutrition mainstream media is engaged in an all-out panic over the success of Dr. Oz in teaching nutrition and disease prevention to the American public. Not surprisingly, all the usual suspects -- media outlets funded by Big Pharma advertising money -- have unleashed a wave of hit pieces against Dr. Oz, claiming his advice is "unproven."
This is rather hilarious from the outset, considering the irrefutable fact that nearly all the most popular drugs don't work on most people. The FDA will approve a drug for a disease based on a mere 5% efficacy rate, meaning the drug doesn't work for 95% of subjects. Flu shots, even when they do work unlike the failed flu shots formulated this year, only prevent the flu in about 1 out of 100 people who receive the shots. So almost 99% of the people who take them receive no benefit (but they do get the extra bonus of mercury, as flu shots administered in the USA still contain this toxic heavy metal which is intentionally added to the formulations). I verified this myself via ICP-MS laboratory instrumentation that conducts mass spectrometry elemental analysis using a quadrupole mass analyzer. (See Labs.NaturalNews.com)
All the media outlets attacking Dr. Oz also have extreme conflicts of interest which they routinely fail to mention: they all take money from drug companies in the form of drug-pushing ads. Nearly all the top drug companies running those ads have criminal records and histories of repeatedly committing felony crimes against the people of the world. For example, GlaxoSmithKline admitted guilt in a massive bribery scheme where they paid off 44,000 doctors in the USA to push their drugs. Most of that bribery went to doctors who prescribed drugs OFF-LABEL, meaning the drugs were prescribed for disease symptoms and conditions for which they were never approved by the FDA.
Those prescriptions, in other words, were backed by ZERO scientific evidence. This is the dirty little secret of the drug industry, and the mainstream media completely ignores this massive fraud taking place across the western medical industrial complex: Most drugs prescribed today have never been tested nor approved for the health conditions for which they are prescribed. This little-recognized fact turns most of the drug industry into nothing more than a high-profit quack fest.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
George Bush: smarter than you think
Our nations leaders aren't as dumb as we think.
Except for Bill Clinton. The legendary democrat scored a 1020, which was more than 200 points less than George W. Bush's 1206. President Obama refuses to release his academic history.
The men that criticize politicians--talk show hosts--all scored extremely high. Bill O'Reilly snagged a 1585, Rush Limbaugh, 1530, and Ben Stein, 1573. [Does Al Franken know this?]
Several big name actors and actresses did surprisingly well on the SAT. Although Natalie Portman refuses to disclose her number, it is rumored that the beautiful actress achieved a near perfect score, the Daily Mail reported.
Scarlett Johansson, on the other hand, bagged a measly 1080. She said it made her feel like "a big dummy" (although 1080 is still above the U.S. average).
Courtney Cox fared similarly, landing a 11000.
Geniuses include Ben Affleck, James Franco and Will Smith, all of whom apparently achieved near perfect scores. Singer Ke$ha snagged an impressive 1500.
Famous dummies include Alex Rodriguez (910) and Howard Stern (870). Bill Cosby, shockingly, scored below 500.
***
[Who cares? They're all richer than you.]
[see also the smartest athletes]
Except for Bill Clinton. The legendary democrat scored a 1020, which was more than 200 points less than George W. Bush's 1206. President Obama refuses to release his academic history.
The men that criticize politicians--talk show hosts--all scored extremely high. Bill O'Reilly snagged a 1585, Rush Limbaugh, 1530, and Ben Stein, 1573. [Does Al Franken know this?]
Several big name actors and actresses did surprisingly well on the SAT. Although Natalie Portman refuses to disclose her number, it is rumored that the beautiful actress achieved a near perfect score, the Daily Mail reported.
Scarlett Johansson, on the other hand, bagged a measly 1080. She said it made her feel like "a big dummy" (although 1080 is still above the U.S. average).
Courtney Cox fared similarly, landing a 11000.
Geniuses include Ben Affleck, James Franco and Will Smith, all of whom apparently achieved near perfect scores. Singer Ke$ha snagged an impressive 1500.
Famous dummies include Alex Rodriguez (910) and Howard Stern (870). Bill Cosby, shockingly, scored below 500.
***
[Who cares? They're all richer than you.]
[see also the smartest athletes]
Thursday, December 11, 2014
gift wrapping
Japanese style [via facebook]
But I probably can't do it because, for one thing, I can't even figure out how to fold a shirt
But I probably can't do it because, for one thing, I can't even figure out how to fold a shirt
Friday, December 05, 2014
Tiny and Tadashi Tadani
The trouble began when Tiny’s father Tadashi Tadani, who suffers from
dementia, had soiled his pants and washed them in his bathroom sink,
leaving the faucet running for about four hours straight.
The elder Tadani did not comprehend the havoc he had just created.
In a span of five years, the father and grandfather that Tiny and Taylor were fond of hanging out with morphed into a stranger who turned paranoid, accusatory and vicious with his cane. The acceleration of his disease had progressively taken a turn for the worse. So much so, that Taylor had to lock his bedroom door at nights for his safety and well-being.
For three years, Tiny desperately tried to place his father in a foster home. “But the problem was that Dad’s healthcare provider kept giving me false information, saying his retirement and Social Security of $2,100 per month exceeded Medicaid’s income requirements by $100, so he didn’t qualify. I had no recourse. My friend recommended I attend a Medicaid seminar at Ala Moana Hotel. I called 593-8885 and went to the seminar conducted by Okura and Associates just for the hell of it,” explains Tiny.
“Within the first five minutes, I learned that it is not about how much a retiree makes but rather how many assets he or she possesses that determines Medicaid qualification.”
The elder Tadani had zero assets. The law firm saw desperation in the young caregiver’s eyes and immediately referred him to Azil, a case management company. Azil felt empathy for Tiny when they witnessed how grumpy and difficult Tadashi was, and found him a care home that day.
Tiny’s dream to place his father in a ’round-the-clock nursing home became a reality last week when the 83-year-old was accepted into a Kaneohe facility — in the same town where he raised his five children.
Tiny Tadani’s nightmare has a happy ending after he threw in the towel on caregiving for his dear ol’ dad for good. With each passing sunrise and sunset, the Tadani family now enjoys quality moments as the patriarch of their home lives in a good place, with son Tiny only a stone’s throw away.
The elder Tadani did not comprehend the havoc he had just created.
In a span of five years, the father and grandfather that Tiny and Taylor were fond of hanging out with morphed into a stranger who turned paranoid, accusatory and vicious with his cane. The acceleration of his disease had progressively taken a turn for the worse. So much so, that Taylor had to lock his bedroom door at nights for his safety and well-being.
For three years, Tiny desperately tried to place his father in a foster home. “But the problem was that Dad’s healthcare provider kept giving me false information, saying his retirement and Social Security of $2,100 per month exceeded Medicaid’s income requirements by $100, so he didn’t qualify. I had no recourse. My friend recommended I attend a Medicaid seminar at Ala Moana Hotel. I called 593-8885 and went to the seminar conducted by Okura and Associates just for the hell of it,” explains Tiny.
“Within the first five minutes, I learned that it is not about how much a retiree makes but rather how many assets he or she possesses that determines Medicaid qualification.”
The elder Tadani had zero assets. The law firm saw desperation in the young caregiver’s eyes and immediately referred him to Azil, a case management company. Azil felt empathy for Tiny when they witnessed how grumpy and difficult Tadashi was, and found him a care home that day.
Tiny’s dream to place his father in a ’round-the-clock nursing home became a reality last week when the 83-year-old was accepted into a Kaneohe facility — in the same town where he raised his five children.
Tiny Tadani’s nightmare has a happy ending after he threw in the towel on caregiving for his dear ol’ dad for good. With each passing sunrise and sunset, the Tadani family now enjoys quality moments as the patriarch of their home lives in a good place, with son Tiny only a stone’s throw away.
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Glen A. Larson
IT’S NO SURPRISE to longtime readers that one of my oldest and dearest friends was Glen A. Larson,
famed television producer and part-time Honolulu resident. Upon
receiving word that he was in intensive care at a Los Angeles hospital, I
rushed to see him … and was at his side when he died …
The list of shows to which he lent his writing and producing talents — Knight Rider, The Six Million Dollar Man, Quincy, McCloud, Switch, To Catch A Thief, Alias Smith & Jones, The Hardy Boys Mysteries, Manimal, Night Man, The Highwayman, The Fall Guy, Battlestar Galactica … and Magnum, P.I., which he developed out of his love for Hawaii, dominated prime time for decades and continues to delight audiences around the world in syndication…
We first met July 19, 1958, when I introduced Glen with The Four Preps at the “Show of Stars” at the old Civic Auditorium. Just before going on, Glen asked me to sustain the applause as long as possible before bringing them back for an encore, which I did, after their last song, 26 Miles … They returned dressed in colorful muumuu, and the audience went wild! …
Glen’s love affair with Hawaii was evident throughout his career, with special episodes or whole series created specifically for our Islands and talent. He wrote an episode of McCloud set in Waikiki, casting Don Ho in a nightclub scene. I had trouble keeping a straight face while introducing him as “Al Moana” … There also was a TV movie, The Islander, filmed mostly at the Halekulani with stars Dennis Weaver, Bernadette Peters and Sharon Gless, in which Dick Jensen went by the name “Al Kahala” …
I was elated when Glen got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and shortly thereafter, was privileged to serve as associate producer of his CBS series, One West Waikiki, starring Cheryl Ladd and Richard Burgi. Along the way, we shared great conversations, great wines and much, much laughter. I bid you warm aloha, my friend …
-- Tom Moffatt, Midweek, November 26, 2014
The list of shows to which he lent his writing and producing talents — Knight Rider, The Six Million Dollar Man, Quincy, McCloud, Switch, To Catch A Thief, Alias Smith & Jones, The Hardy Boys Mysteries, Manimal, Night Man, The Highwayman, The Fall Guy, Battlestar Galactica … and Magnum, P.I., which he developed out of his love for Hawaii, dominated prime time for decades and continues to delight audiences around the world in syndication…
We first met July 19, 1958, when I introduced Glen with The Four Preps at the “Show of Stars” at the old Civic Auditorium. Just before going on, Glen asked me to sustain the applause as long as possible before bringing them back for an encore, which I did, after their last song, 26 Miles … They returned dressed in colorful muumuu, and the audience went wild! …
Glen’s love affair with Hawaii was evident throughout his career, with special episodes or whole series created specifically for our Islands and talent. He wrote an episode of McCloud set in Waikiki, casting Don Ho in a nightclub scene. I had trouble keeping a straight face while introducing him as “Al Moana” … There also was a TV movie, The Islander, filmed mostly at the Halekulani with stars Dennis Weaver, Bernadette Peters and Sharon Gless, in which Dick Jensen went by the name “Al Kahala” …
I was elated when Glen got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and shortly thereafter, was privileged to serve as associate producer of his CBS series, One West Waikiki, starring Cheryl Ladd and Richard Burgi. Along the way, we shared great conversations, great wines and much, much laughter. I bid you warm aloha, my friend …
-- Tom Moffatt, Midweek, November 26, 2014
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Monday, December 01, 2014
15 things to give up to be happy
1. Give up your need to always be right
There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?
[yeah, but what if you are always right? 8]
There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?
[yeah, but what if you are always right? 8]
Friday, November 28, 2014
second cousin once removed?
what does that mean? this chart helps clarify
A second cousin means he/she is the child of your mother's or father's first cousin. In other words, you have the same great grand parent.
A second cousin once removed means they are the child of your second cousin.
wait, actually I see another second cousin once removed on the chart.
It could be the child of your grandparents first cousin.
OK, now it's even more confusing since there are actually two definitions.
-- via facebook
Let's make it simpler and define a first cousin once removed.
Two people for whom a first cousin relationship is one generation removed.
The child of one's first cousin; also the first cousin of one's parent.
So what is the relationship between the two definitions of first cousin once removed?
For one thing, they are two generations apart (with you in the middle). Looking at the chart, the grandparent of the first cousin once removed is the great great grandparent of the other first cousin once removed.
Yeah, that's clear now...
A second cousin means he/she is the child of your mother's or father's first cousin. In other words, you have the same great grand parent.
A second cousin once removed means they are the child of your second cousin.
wait, actually I see another second cousin once removed on the chart.
It could be the child of your grandparents first cousin.
OK, now it's even more confusing since there are actually two definitions.
-- via facebook
Let's make it simpler and define a first cousin once removed.
Two people for whom a first cousin relationship is one generation removed.
The child of one's first cousin; also the first cousin of one's parent.
So what is the relationship between the two definitions of first cousin once removed?
For one thing, they are two generations apart (with you in the middle). Looking at the chart, the grandparent of the first cousin once removed is the great great grandparent of the other first cousin once removed.
Yeah, that's clear now...
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Solving Human Problems
Jehovah's Witnesses get mainstream coverage (if you call MidWeek mainstream) ...
These days, everyone is trying to improve their exterior with ab workouts, wrinkle creams and ED drugs. But what about the inside of a person? How does one better the person within the skin?
That opportunity is available for the next two weekends at Hawaii Convention Center, as Jehovah Witnesses (JW) brings perhaps the state’s biggest convention of the year to town, with more than 24,000 delegates from 10 countries.
“The program is a workshop for families — all kinds of information. There is no religious ceremony or revival or call out begging for money,” explains David Fitzgerald, an elder in the organization and convention spokesman. “It is talks, re-enactments and demonstrations to make it lively and interesting, because these are rough times, and families need to know how to cope and how to deal with life’s pressures in the best way, and give guidance to their family.”
Programs during the day are free and open to the public, and cover a variety of issues, from how to balance your career while raising a family and how to find the right mate, to basic lessons on morality and good health.
In addition to the life lessons, there will be two theatrical productions that will bring a Bible story to life and provide guidance on how to treat others in the workplace.
This is the last of 190 conventions held this year by JW, according to Fitzgerald, and the first one held in Hawaii since 2009. This year is special to JW because they believe this is the 100th anniversary of Jesus Christ beginning his rule of Earth.
For those unfamiliar with JW, besides seeing their smiling faces walking around neighborhoods handing out tracts or their magazine The Watchtower, they originated in the 1870s in Pittsburgh. They formed out of the Bible Student movement with their own interpretation of the Bible, and have been growing ever since.
Currently there are about 8 million believers worldwide, and its international appeal can be seen in the delegates, who will begin arriving here this week. Australia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and five nations from South America will be represented at the convention, with each group using a translator for the day’s programs.
“People of many faiths pray for God’s Kingdom,” says Fitzgerald, who has been a JW his whole life. “This convention will explain what that kingdom is and how it can be a positive influence in our lives. A highlight of the program will be the keynote address on Friday morning, which will discuss how that kingdom is benefiting people today.
“A core belief of JW, based on Biblical and historical information, is that Jesus Christ began to rule as the King of God’s Kingdom in 1914. This convention marks this year as the centennial of that event.”
Locally, there are 90 JW congregations, with approximately 9,700 members, and they will be helping to welcome the delegates in true Hawaiian style: lei at the airport, serenades by ukulele and keiki hula demonstrations. They even plan to have a Lua Patrol, whose job will be to prepare the public restrooms ahead of the delegates’ arrivals on the bus tours to our local sites, ensuring they are extra clean, equipped with gift baskets and occasionally accompanied by local music performed live by local believers.
While the impact they hope to have is of a more eternal variety, one cannot ignore the immediate financial one this convention will have on the Islands.
They already have chartered 240 buses from Roberts Hawaii to take the delegates on four different tours of Oahu, and while that will spread a lot of dollars around the state, Fitzgerald believes the bigger feeling will be that of the aloha JW bring with them everywhere they go.
“During the weeks of this convention, if you are to walk around Waikiki or especially if you come to the convention, it is the best atmosphere,” says Fitzgerald. “Everyone is happy, smiling, joking and some are almost giddy because it is such a cool, cool feeling to be in that kind of environment with those kind of people. No cuss words, no people losing their temper, just a really cool atmosphere.”
They like to live their lives as examples, rather than preach how you should live yours. So if you are seeking a new, better you, Fitzgerald encourages anyone to join them.
“There’s something for everyone,” says Fitzgerald. “Who isn’t looking for answers to life’s big questions? That’s what this convention is all about: finding satisfying answers.”
-- Midweek, November 5, 2014
These days, everyone is trying to improve their exterior with ab workouts, wrinkle creams and ED drugs. But what about the inside of a person? How does one better the person within the skin?
That opportunity is available for the next two weekends at Hawaii Convention Center, as Jehovah Witnesses (JW) brings perhaps the state’s biggest convention of the year to town, with more than 24,000 delegates from 10 countries.
“The program is a workshop for families — all kinds of information. There is no religious ceremony or revival or call out begging for money,” explains David Fitzgerald, an elder in the organization and convention spokesman. “It is talks, re-enactments and demonstrations to make it lively and interesting, because these are rough times, and families need to know how to cope and how to deal with life’s pressures in the best way, and give guidance to their family.”
Programs during the day are free and open to the public, and cover a variety of issues, from how to balance your career while raising a family and how to find the right mate, to basic lessons on morality and good health.
In addition to the life lessons, there will be two theatrical productions that will bring a Bible story to life and provide guidance on how to treat others in the workplace.
This is the last of 190 conventions held this year by JW, according to Fitzgerald, and the first one held in Hawaii since 2009. This year is special to JW because they believe this is the 100th anniversary of Jesus Christ beginning his rule of Earth.
For those unfamiliar with JW, besides seeing their smiling faces walking around neighborhoods handing out tracts or their magazine The Watchtower, they originated in the 1870s in Pittsburgh. They formed out of the Bible Student movement with their own interpretation of the Bible, and have been growing ever since.
Currently there are about 8 million believers worldwide, and its international appeal can be seen in the delegates, who will begin arriving here this week. Australia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and five nations from South America will be represented at the convention, with each group using a translator for the day’s programs.
“People of many faiths pray for God’s Kingdom,” says Fitzgerald, who has been a JW his whole life. “This convention will explain what that kingdom is and how it can be a positive influence in our lives. A highlight of the program will be the keynote address on Friday morning, which will discuss how that kingdom is benefiting people today.
“A core belief of JW, based on Biblical and historical information, is that Jesus Christ began to rule as the King of God’s Kingdom in 1914. This convention marks this year as the centennial of that event.”
Locally, there are 90 JW congregations, with approximately 9,700 members, and they will be helping to welcome the delegates in true Hawaiian style: lei at the airport, serenades by ukulele and keiki hula demonstrations. They even plan to have a Lua Patrol, whose job will be to prepare the public restrooms ahead of the delegates’ arrivals on the bus tours to our local sites, ensuring they are extra clean, equipped with gift baskets and occasionally accompanied by local music performed live by local believers.
While the impact they hope to have is of a more eternal variety, one cannot ignore the immediate financial one this convention will have on the Islands.
They already have chartered 240 buses from Roberts Hawaii to take the delegates on four different tours of Oahu, and while that will spread a lot of dollars around the state, Fitzgerald believes the bigger feeling will be that of the aloha JW bring with them everywhere they go.
“During the weeks of this convention, if you are to walk around Waikiki or especially if you come to the convention, it is the best atmosphere,” says Fitzgerald. “Everyone is happy, smiling, joking and some are almost giddy because it is such a cool, cool feeling to be in that kind of environment with those kind of people. No cuss words, no people losing their temper, just a really cool atmosphere.”
They like to live their lives as examples, rather than preach how you should live yours. So if you are seeking a new, better you, Fitzgerald encourages anyone to join them.
“There’s something for everyone,” says Fitzgerald. “Who isn’t looking for answers to life’s big questions? That’s what this convention is all about: finding satisfying answers.”
-- Midweek, November 5, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
the #1 myth about hunger
Bittman is one of America’s leading food writers and thinkers, so his
circle is a bit broader than mine. But our message is the same: To feed
the world’s growing population, we need to change the way we think
about hunger.
In Bittman’s recent piece in The New York Times, “Don’t Ask How to Feed the 9 Billion”, he debunks a very common misconception — that hunger is caused by a scarcity of food. He writes:
When I read that, I thought of some other words from the script for the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet®, words which I’ve heard so many times I can almost recite them by heart:
In Bittman’s recent piece in The New York Times, “Don’t Ask How to Feed the 9 Billion”, he debunks a very common misconception — that hunger is caused by a scarcity of food. He writes:
The difference between you and the
hungry is not production levels; it’s money. There are no hungry people
with money; there isn’t a shortage of food, nor is there a distribution
problem. There is an
I-don’t-have-the-land-and-resources-to-produce-my-own-food,
nor-can-I-afford-to-buy-food problem. …
So we should not be asking, “How will
we feed the world?” but “How can we help end poverty?” Claiming that
increasing yield would feed the poor is like saying that producing more
cars or private jets would guarantee that everyone had one.
When I read that, I thought of some other words from the script for the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet®, words which I’ve heard so many times I can almost recite them by heart:
You may think hunger is about too many
people and too little food. That is not the case. Our rich and
bountiful planet produces enough food to feed every woman, man, and
child on earth. Hunger is about power. Its roots lie in inequalities in access to resources.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
the effects of prayer
Several studies have been conducted to test the effectiveness of praying for others. The most comprehensive and rigorous of these was the
Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) project,
which tested the notion that praying for sick patients improved their
health. STEP was a double-blind study that involved 1,800 patients who
had received coronary bypass surgery. Neither the patients nor their
doctors were allowed to know which patients were prayed for and which
were not. The patients were divided into several groups. Group 1
received prayers and didn’t know it. Group 2 received no prayers and
didn’t know it. Group 3 received prayers and did know it. This third
group was not subjected to the double-blind testing standard, but was
important to the study nonetheless for examining any possible
psychosomatic effects of prayer. Three separate churches in different
parts of the country provided the prayers.
The results of the test were reported in the April 2006 American Heart Journal. According to the findings of this study, there was no difference between patients who were prayed for and those who were not (Groups 1 and 2). (Patients who received no prayers actually fared slightly better than patients who did, but the difference was deemed too small to be of any significance.) There was, however, a noticeable difference between those who knew they had been prayed for and those who did not (Group 3 versus Groups 1 and 2). Those who knew they were prayed for suffered significantly more complications than the other patients. This was attributed to “performance anxiety.” Patients in Group 3 knew people were praying for them and felt pressure to do well. This also convinced them that they were so sick a prayer team was needed. After all, one doesn’t need prayers for a runny nose or a sore throat.
Thus, instead of bringing comfort, the prayers added extra stress and worry for these patients. I suppose the only thing more distressing in this scenario would be to find out your own doctor is praying for you.
Is praying to be completely dismissed, then? Should churches and other places of worship stop their practice of asking their congregations to pray for others?
No. A quote widely attributed to the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard seems to sum up the purpose and power of prayer: “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” In other words, prayer is helpful for the one praying, not the one being prayed for. While praying for others seems to have no discernible positive effect, there is a wealth of evidence that suggests prayer and meditation have beneficial effects on the person engaged in these practices.
Prayer, meditation and related practices are conducive to developing a positive mental attitude. What is more, numerous studies attest to the physical and psychological benefits of such a positive outlook. Better concentration and patience, deep relaxation and inner calm, and even faster recovery from illness and lower blood pressure are just some of the conclusions reached in studies that examined the impact of prayer and meditation on the practitioner. Such benefits are worth seeking.
-- Jay Sakashita, MidWeek, 11/12/14
The results of the test were reported in the April 2006 American Heart Journal. According to the findings of this study, there was no difference between patients who were prayed for and those who were not (Groups 1 and 2). (Patients who received no prayers actually fared slightly better than patients who did, but the difference was deemed too small to be of any significance.) There was, however, a noticeable difference between those who knew they had been prayed for and those who did not (Group 3 versus Groups 1 and 2). Those who knew they were prayed for suffered significantly more complications than the other patients. This was attributed to “performance anxiety.” Patients in Group 3 knew people were praying for them and felt pressure to do well. This also convinced them that they were so sick a prayer team was needed. After all, one doesn’t need prayers for a runny nose or a sore throat.
Thus, instead of bringing comfort, the prayers added extra stress and worry for these patients. I suppose the only thing more distressing in this scenario would be to find out your own doctor is praying for you.
Is praying to be completely dismissed, then? Should churches and other places of worship stop their practice of asking their congregations to pray for others?
No. A quote widely attributed to the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard seems to sum up the purpose and power of prayer: “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” In other words, prayer is helpful for the one praying, not the one being prayed for. While praying for others seems to have no discernible positive effect, there is a wealth of evidence that suggests prayer and meditation have beneficial effects on the person engaged in these practices.
Prayer, meditation and related practices are conducive to developing a positive mental attitude. What is more, numerous studies attest to the physical and psychological benefits of such a positive outlook. Better concentration and patience, deep relaxation and inner calm, and even faster recovery from illness and lower blood pressure are just some of the conclusions reached in studies that examined the impact of prayer and meditation on the practitioner. Such benefits are worth seeking.
-- Jay Sakashita, MidWeek, 11/12/14
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The Art of McCartney
Here's a new tribute album honoring the great Paul McCartney. Since you like The Beatles on Pandora, we think you'll enjoy it.
[email from Pandora]
[email from Pandora]
Saturday, November 08, 2014
the man with nine lives
Time, it seemed, had come.
Roy Nagahara said his final farewells to family and friends, then turned to his wife, Irene, as the medical staff removed the breathing tube from his throat.
Nagahara had gone to the hospital 12 days earlier with severe pneumonia, his heart and lungs so weak that doctors placed him on a resuscitator just to stabilize him enough to run tests.
Already compromised by a pair of strokes, Nagahara's condition continued to worsen. After five days on the resuscitator, Nagahara could bear no more. He wanted the tube removed, even though he knew it meant he would almost certainly die.
"So they pulled it out and I put my head down, closed my eyes and waited," Nagahara said of that April day. "After a couple of seconds, I looked around and said, 'Eh, I'm still alive.' So I put my head down again, closed my eyes and fell asleep.
"Ten minutes later I opened my eyes again and I was still alive. So I told the doc, 'I guess it's not my day.'"
Roy Nagahara said his final farewells to family and friends, then turned to his wife, Irene, as the medical staff removed the breathing tube from his throat.
Nagahara had gone to the hospital 12 days earlier with severe pneumonia, his heart and lungs so weak that doctors placed him on a resuscitator just to stabilize him enough to run tests.
Already compromised by a pair of strokes, Nagahara's condition continued to worsen. After five days on the resuscitator, Nagahara could bear no more. He wanted the tube removed, even though he knew it meant he would almost certainly die.
"So they pulled it out and I put my head down, closed my eyes and waited," Nagahara said of that April day. "After a couple of seconds, I looked around and said, 'Eh, I'm still alive.' So I put my head down again, closed my eyes and fell asleep.
"Ten minutes later I opened my eyes again and I was still alive. So I told the doc, 'I guess it's not my day.'"
Thursday, November 06, 2014
free movies?
I'm talking about pirate sites (I will not mention who told me about them to protect the non-innocent). I'm always leery of these sites because of the danger of spyware. But sometimes I'm curious and might sneak a peek in order to see whether it might be worth my time (and money) to watch the movie legitimately.
Anyway, here's a few sites that might (or might not) work for you. (And might or might not be safe.)
couchtuner.eu
solarmovie.ws
movietube.cz
movieondrive.com
Anyway, here's a few sites that might (or might not) work for you. (And might or might not be safe.)
couchtuner.eu
solarmovie.ws
movietube.cz
movieondrive.com
(Use at your own risk.)
[4/28/15 - I'll post this with date 11/6/14 so as to kind of bury it]
[4/28/15 - I'll post this with date 11/6/14 so as to kind of bury it]
Batman vs. Marvel: battle of the 75 year olds
Marvel Comics isn’t the only comic book institution celebrating a 75th anniversary this year. A certain Dark Knight also hits the big seven-five.
Created by Bob Kane and the criminally underrated and overlooked Bill Finger, Batman appeared for the first time in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated May 1939), and he’s been an American icon ever since. In fact, Batman’s popularity has grown with each passing decade, and he’s probably one of the most resilient fictional characters of all time, up there with Sherlock Holmes and Dracula (two creations, incidentally, that were instrumental in Batman’s conception).
Today, Batman and Marvel stand as the two greatest examples of how far superheroes have come since the late 1930s, as well as the benchmarks of the genre’s current popularity.
Because we live in a time when one success can only be celebrated by pitting it against another in merciless competition, we’ve decided to ask—as well as answer—the most important question when it comes to these two pop culture paragons:
Which is the more successful septuagenarian, Batman or Marvel Comics?
[spoiler: this movie had some bearing on the outcome. Interesting. Written by David Goyer.]
Created by Bob Kane and the criminally underrated and overlooked Bill Finger, Batman appeared for the first time in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated May 1939), and he’s been an American icon ever since. In fact, Batman’s popularity has grown with each passing decade, and he’s probably one of the most resilient fictional characters of all time, up there with Sherlock Holmes and Dracula (two creations, incidentally, that were instrumental in Batman’s conception).
Today, Batman and Marvel stand as the two greatest examples of how far superheroes have come since the late 1930s, as well as the benchmarks of the genre’s current popularity.
Because we live in a time when one success can only be celebrated by pitting it against another in merciless competition, we’ve decided to ask—as well as answer—the most important question when it comes to these two pop culture paragons:
Which is the more successful septuagenarian, Batman or Marvel Comics?
[spoiler: this movie had some bearing on the outcome. Interesting. Written by David Goyer.]
Monday, November 03, 2014
Brittany Maynard
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Brittany Maynard stuck by her decision.
The terminally ill woman who revived a national debate about physician-assisted suicide ended her life Saturday by swallowing lethal drugs made available under an Oregon law allowing terminally ill people to choose when to die. She would have been 30 on Nov. 19.
Maynard had been in the spotlight for about a month since publicizing that she and her husband, Dan Diaz, moved to Portland from Northern California so that she could take advantage of the Oregon law. She told journalists she planned to die Nov. 1, shortly after her husband's birthday, but reserved the right to move the date forward or push it back.
Maynard ended her suffering from brain cancer right on schedule after hinting at a possible delay in a video released last week.
"She died as she intended — peacefully in her bedroom, in the arms of her loved ones," said Sean Crowley, a spokesman for the advocacy group Compassion & Choices.
Crowley said Maynard "suffered increasingly frequent and longer seizures, severe head and neck pain, and stroke-like symptoms. As symptoms grew more severe, she chose to abbreviate the dying process by taking the aid-in-dying medication she had received months ago."
The issue of physician-assisted suicide is not new, but Maynard's youth and vitality before she became ill brought the discussion to a younger generation.
Working with Compassion & Choices, Maynard used her story to speak out for the right of terminally ill people like herself to end their lives on their own terms.
Maynard's choice was not without detractors. Some religious groups and others opposed to physician-assisted suicide voiced objections.
Maynard earned two degrees and had an adventuresome spirit during her short life. She taught at orphanages in Nepal and spent time in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Costa Rica. She climbed Kilimanjaro a month before marrying Diaz in September 2012.
She was diagnosed with brain cancer on New Year's Day of this year and was later told she had six months to live.
Before dying, Maynard tried to live as fully as she could. She and her husband took a trip to the Grand Canyon last month — fulfilling a wish on Maynard's "bucket list."
Batman TV on DVD?
[9/23/08] The latest mumblings on the efforts to bring the TV series to DVD.
Currently the situation has Fox filing suit against Warners and other connected companies over the rights to produce and distribute the upcoming "Watchmen" movie, based on contracts signed a considerable while ago. And it appears that they have a very good case indeed.
But do Fox really want to make a “Watchmen” film of their own? Do they want the money from the Warners “Watchmen” film? Do they want a cut? A payoff? Or just holding up a rival?
None of the above. Sources tell me that Fox want the 1960s Batman TV series. Currently Fox own the TV footage, but Warner Bros own the characters and trademarks, via their ownership of DC Comics. The rights to a DVD release have been held up for a long time now, and this case looks like it may be the instrument to release them.
Oh, Fox will get a wodge of cash as well - many millions of dollars it seems. But it seems they also want the rights to release the Adam West-starring Batman on DVD, something long denied fans of the series. And Warners will get the “Watchmen” film, to release as planned.
* * *
But everybody will have to remember that DC Comics is only ONE of the rights-related hurdles that Fox needs to leap over! Fox has to work their way out of a very large "rights hell" situation that not only involves DC (albeit in a smaller and less contentious way than people are imagining), but many others, too! In fact, the sheer scope, depth and breadth of all the rights-holders who have to be brought into various agreements, to get this program released on DVD, can be absolutely frightening!
***
[2/18/11] Adam West interview
[6/7/12] Hope springs eternal. For the first time in 40 years, Warner Bros. Consumer Products will be able to use the likeness of the show's stars, including Adam West, Burt Ward, Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith, on everything from apparel to toys, home goods, publishing and promotions.
WBCP will introduce the new "Batman" product opportunities to potential partners and retailers at next week's Licensing Expo, running June 12-14 in Las Vegas. First products will launch in the spring.
[7/19/12] Some episodes available on youtube uploaded by MrHJona (uploaded starting July 14, 2011, we'll see how long they last) Actually, looking further, he uploaded all of them! Also uploaded by Bat-Channel11 including the unaired pilot episode of Batgirl [bonus 2011 unaired pilot episode of Wonder Woman]
Batman The Movie
Return to the Batcave
Birds of Prey 1.1
[7/18/13] Batman on Blu-Ray sighting? No, not really.
Meanwhile all of MrHJone's Batman uploads were deleted. And pretty much everything in the 7/19/12 post above. However BestFanofBatman has uploaded seasons 1 and 2 (plus 2 episodes of season 3).
[1/15/14] Holy nostalgia,Caped Crusader ! The original 1960s Batman show is finally getting a home-video release, and Conan O'Brien couldn't be happier.
USA TODAY confirmed the news that the late-night talk-show host tweeted to his 9.75 million followers Wednesday:Warner Bros. Entertainment will be releasing the complete series this year in a box set. He also added a picture of himself and the classic Batmobile with the quip, "The seat smells like Adam West ."
The original series, which ran 1966-68 on ABC and in later years in syndication, was many people's introduction to the superhero outside of comics, especially before the Tim Burton Batman movie was released in 1989. And compared to the "Dark Knight" era that began in the 1980s with comics icon Frank Miller and others, the TV show was a lighthearted, campy affair starring West as the earnest Batman and his alter egoBruce Wayne , Burt Ward as Robin and Yvonne Craig as Batgirl.
However, the many colorful villains they faced on a weekly basis were arguably more of a draw, with a stable of mainstays including the Joker (Cesar Romero ), the Penguin (Burgess Meredith ), the Riddler (Frank Gorshin ) and three different women to wear the tight leather of Catwoman (Lee Meriwether , Eartha Kitt and Julie Newmar ). Celebrities of the day were regular guest stars, including film director Otto Preminger as Mr. Freeze , Milton Berle as Louie the Lilac, Vincent Price as Egghead, Liberace as Chandell and his twin brother Harry, and Zsa Zsa Gabor as Minerva.
[yay!]
[7/2/14] Coming in November 2014
[7/17/14] 11/11/14 (Kind of expensive though.)
[11/3/14] Lots of options for the collector
[11/4/14] How Batman finally made it to DVD
[11/9/14] interview highlights with cast members
[11/13/14] Adam West is delighted
[5/5/15] Batman DVD big winner at the 2015 Home Media Magazine Awards
Currently the situation has Fox filing suit against Warners and other connected companies over the rights to produce and distribute the upcoming "Watchmen" movie, based on contracts signed a considerable while ago. And it appears that they have a very good case indeed.
But do Fox really want to make a “Watchmen” film of their own? Do they want the money from the Warners “Watchmen” film? Do they want a cut? A payoff? Or just holding up a rival?
None of the above. Sources tell me that Fox want the 1960s Batman TV series. Currently Fox own the TV footage, but Warner Bros own the characters and trademarks, via their ownership of DC Comics. The rights to a DVD release have been held up for a long time now, and this case looks like it may be the instrument to release them.
Oh, Fox will get a wodge of cash as well - many millions of dollars it seems. But it seems they also want the rights to release the Adam West-starring Batman on DVD, something long denied fans of the series. And Warners will get the “Watchmen” film, to release as planned.
* * *
But everybody will have to remember that DC Comics is only ONE of the rights-related hurdles that Fox needs to leap over! Fox has to work their way out of a very large "rights hell" situation that not only involves DC (albeit in a smaller and less contentious way than people are imagining), but many others, too! In fact, the sheer scope, depth and breadth of all the rights-holders who have to be brought into various agreements, to get this program released on DVD, can be absolutely frightening!
***
[2/18/11] Adam West interview
[6/7/12] Hope springs eternal. For the first time in 40 years, Warner Bros. Consumer Products will be able to use the likeness of the show's stars, including Adam West, Burt Ward, Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith, on everything from apparel to toys, home goods, publishing and promotions.
WBCP will introduce the new "Batman" product opportunities to potential partners and retailers at next week's Licensing Expo, running June 12-14 in Las Vegas. First products will launch in the spring.
[7/19/12] Some episodes available on youtube uploaded by MrHJona (uploaded starting July 14, 2011, we'll see how long they last) Actually, looking further, he uploaded all of them! Also uploaded by Bat-Channel11 including the unaired pilot episode of Batgirl [bonus 2011 unaired pilot episode of Wonder Woman]
Batman The Movie
Return to the Batcave
Birds of Prey 1.1
[7/18/13] Batman on Blu-Ray sighting? No, not really.
Meanwhile all of MrHJone's Batman uploads were deleted. And pretty much everything in the 7/19/12 post above. However BestFanofBatman has uploaded seasons 1 and 2 (plus 2 episodes of season 3).
[1/15/14] Holy nostalgia,
USA TODAY confirmed the news that the late-night talk-show host tweeted to his 9.75 million followers Wednesday:
The original series, which ran 1966-68 on ABC and in later years in syndication, was many people's introduction to the superhero outside of comics, especially before the Tim Burton Batman movie was released in 1989. And compared to the "Dark Knight" era that began in the 1980s with comics icon Frank Miller and others, the TV show was a lighthearted, campy affair starring West as the earnest Batman and his alter ego
However, the many colorful villains they faced on a weekly basis were arguably more of a draw, with a stable of mainstays including the Joker (
[yay!]
[7/2/14] Coming in November 2014
[7/17/14] 11/11/14 (Kind of expensive though.)
[11/3/14] Lots of options for the collector
[11/4/14] How Batman finally made it to DVD
[11/9/14] interview highlights with cast members
[11/13/14] Adam West is delighted
[5/5/15] Batman DVD big winner at the 2015 Home Media Magazine Awards
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Actors Who've Played Multiple Comic Characters
Well, there's Ben Affleck who's played Daredevil and is going to play Batman.
There's Chris Evans who played The Human Torch and is playing Captain America.
Who else? read on...
While Affleck will attempt to remove the memory of "Daredevil" as Warner Bros.' new Batman, THR looks back on other actors -- including Chris Evans, Halle Berry and Samuel L. Jackson -- who've donned tights, capes or masks more than once.
There's Chris Evans who played The Human Torch and is playing Captain America.
Who else? read on...
While Affleck will attempt to remove the memory of "Daredevil" as Warner Bros.' new Batman, THR looks back on other actors -- including Chris Evans, Halle Berry and Samuel L. Jackson -- who've donned tights, capes or masks more than once.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Still More Superhero Movies
LOS ANGELES >> "Doctor Strange," ''Black Panther," ''Captain Marvel" and the "Inhumans" are joining the Marvel cinematic universe.
The studio unveiled the titles and release dates of its upcoming superhero films through 2019 during a Tuesday event in Hollywood. The schedule includes a mix of sequels featuring familiar faces and originals focused onMarvel characters that have yet to be introduced on the big screen.
The slate includes "Captain America: Civil War" and "Doctor Strange" in 2016; "Guardians of the Galaxy 2," ''Thor: Ragnarok" and "Black Panther" in 2017; "The Avengers: Infinity War -- Part I," ''Captain Marvel" and "Inhumans" in 2018; and "The Avengers: Infinity War -- Part II" in 2019.
The movies join next year's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Ant-Man."
"When we have information we want to reveal, we reveal it," Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige told fans and members of the media on stage at the El Capitan Theatre. "Sometimes that's in a press release, sometimes that's in San Diego Comic-Con -- if everything comes together well -- and sometimes that's on a random Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the morning."
At the end of the event, "Get On Up" star Chadwick Boseman was announced as the actor who will portray Black Panther. He joined "Iron Man" and "Captain America" stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans on stage for the reveal.
"I'm blessed to be part of this Marvel universe," Boseman said. "I look forward to making magic together."
Feige said the character will make his first appearance in "Civil War," which will pit Captain America and Iron Man against each other. In the comics, Black Panther is the leader of the fictional African nation of Wakanda who becomes a member of The Avengers.
"He is definitively a big part of 'Civil War,'" Feige said. "We will see him for the first time in 'Civil War' in costume."
"Black Panther" and "Captain Marvel" will mark the studio's first films centered on black and female characters from Marvel comics. Feige said the big-screen iteration of the Captain Marvel character will be Carol Danvers, a U.S. Air Force officer whose adventures take her to space in the comics.
No casting announcements were made for "Captain Marvel," the sorcery-centric "Doctor Strange" or "Inhumans," which is about a race of superhumans.
The Marvel films represent an important chunk of the Walt Disney Co.'s portfolio. Feige said the first 10 Marvelfilms, which kicked off in 2008 with "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk," have made over $7 billion.
Tuesday's unveiling of the so-called "phase three" of Marvel's film schedule comes two weeks after Warner Bros. announced a slate of 10 films based on DC Comics characters, including "The Flash," ''Aquaman," ''Cyborg," ''Wonder Woman" and "Shazam."
***
Decades from now, cinephiles will look back on the early 2000s as the Superhero Era — and they’ll be able to pinpoint the moment when the bubble burst. As with all trends, it’s only a matter of time. It happened with film noir and then westerns, it happened to the spy movies of the 1960s, and then to the gritty crime dramas of the ’70s.
And that’s why Warner Bros.’ plan to produce 10 DC Comics movies between 2016 to 2020 seems so short-sighted. The company is so focused on dethroning Marvel as the reigning box office champ that it’s missing the big picture: Superheroes may be invincible on screen, but their popularity won’t last forever. And the upcoming glut of movies might just speed their demise.
The saturation is no joke. Studios have already slated 22 titles over the next five years, not including the handful Marvel has promised with release dates but without any details.
While Marvel has enjoyed hit after hit, from “Iron Man” to “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Warner Bros. has had a spotty past with its DC Comics adaptations. Batman and Superman can deliver predictably big box-office numbers, but beyond those guys, all bets are off. Remember the “Catwoman” catastrophe of 2004? Not to mention the two consecutive bombs “Jonah Hex,” in 2010, and “The Green Lantern” the following year.
Warner Bros. is doubling down on its golden boys: In addition to “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” with Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, Warner plans to release two other Justice League movies. The directive is clear: Replicate the success of Marvel’s “Avengers” franchise, and pray that Affleck doesn’t pull a Clooney.
***
release dates
The studio unveiled the titles and release dates of its upcoming superhero films through 2019 during a Tuesday event in Hollywood. The schedule includes a mix of sequels featuring familiar faces and originals focused onMarvel characters that have yet to be introduced on the big screen.
The slate includes "Captain America: Civil War" and "Doctor Strange" in 2016; "Guardians of the Galaxy 2," ''Thor: Ragnarok" and "Black Panther" in 2017; "The Avengers: Infinity War -- Part I," ''Captain Marvel" and "Inhumans" in 2018; and "The Avengers: Infinity War -- Part II" in 2019.
The movies join next year's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Ant-Man."
"When we have information we want to reveal, we reveal it," Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige told fans and members of the media on stage at the El Capitan Theatre. "Sometimes that's in a press release, sometimes that's in San Diego Comic-Con -- if everything comes together well -- and sometimes that's on a random Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the morning."
At the end of the event, "Get On Up" star Chadwick Boseman was announced as the actor who will portray Black Panther. He joined "Iron Man" and "Captain America" stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans on stage for the reveal.
"I'm blessed to be part of this Marvel universe," Boseman said. "I look forward to making magic together."
Feige said the character will make his first appearance in "Civil War," which will pit Captain America and Iron Man against each other. In the comics, Black Panther is the leader of the fictional African nation of Wakanda who becomes a member of The Avengers.
"He is definitively a big part of 'Civil War,'" Feige said. "We will see him for the first time in 'Civil War' in costume."
"Black Panther" and "Captain Marvel" will mark the studio's first films centered on black and female characters from Marvel comics. Feige said the big-screen iteration of the Captain Marvel character will be Carol Danvers, a U.S. Air Force officer whose adventures take her to space in the comics.
No casting announcements were made for "Captain Marvel," the sorcery-centric "Doctor Strange" or "Inhumans," which is about a race of superhumans.
The Marvel films represent an important chunk of the Walt Disney Co.'s portfolio. Feige said the first 10 Marvelfilms, which kicked off in 2008 with "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk," have made over $7 billion.
Tuesday's unveiling of the so-called "phase three" of Marvel's film schedule comes two weeks after Warner Bros. announced a slate of 10 films based on DC Comics characters, including "The Flash," ''Aquaman," ''Cyborg," ''Wonder Woman" and "Shazam."
***
Decades from now, cinephiles will look back on the early 2000s as the Superhero Era — and they’ll be able to pinpoint the moment when the bubble burst. As with all trends, it’s only a matter of time. It happened with film noir and then westerns, it happened to the spy movies of the 1960s, and then to the gritty crime dramas of the ’70s.
And that’s why Warner Bros.’ plan to produce 10 DC Comics movies between 2016 to 2020 seems so short-sighted. The company is so focused on dethroning Marvel as the reigning box office champ that it’s missing the big picture: Superheroes may be invincible on screen, but their popularity won’t last forever. And the upcoming glut of movies might just speed their demise.
The saturation is no joke. Studios have already slated 22 titles over the next five years, not including the handful Marvel has promised with release dates but without any details.
While Marvel has enjoyed hit after hit, from “Iron Man” to “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Warner Bros. has had a spotty past with its DC Comics adaptations. Batman and Superman can deliver predictably big box-office numbers, but beyond those guys, all bets are off. Remember the “Catwoman” catastrophe of 2004? Not to mention the two consecutive bombs “Jonah Hex,” in 2010, and “The Green Lantern” the following year.
Warner Bros. is doubling down on its golden boys: In addition to “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” with Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, Warner plans to release two other Justice League movies. The directive is clear: Replicate the success of Marvel’s “Avengers” franchise, and pray that Affleck doesn’t pull a Clooney.
***
release dates
Monday, October 20, 2014
Marvel killing the Fantastic Four?
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Marvel superheroes are a powerful force in the movie universe, but it's going to take a huge plot twist to get them all fighting on the same side.
When Disney (DIS) bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion back in 2009, it secured the rights to Marvel's entire comic-book universe including Captain America, Spider-Man, The X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four and The Hulk. It just didn't get the right to put all of them on screen, and it's still a little bitter about it half a decade later.
Sony (SNE) still holds the film rights to Spider-Man and all the villains, sidekicks and other characters created specifically for his books. The folks at 21st Century Fox (FOXA) hold similar rights to both the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Neither Disney nor Marvel are happy about that situation and, recently, issued an edict to Marvel's writers not to develop anything new for the Marvel properties owned by Fox.
X-Men writer Chris Claremont recently appeared on the Nerdist podcast and told Len Wein, Marc Bernardin and Heath Corson that he's been “forbidden to create new characters… all because all new characters become the film property of Fox.” And -- “because why promote Fox material?” -- the Marvel staff has been told to put exactly zero effort into producing new X-Men merchandise.
Keep in mind that the X-Men franchise has brought in $1.3 billion in the United States and more than $3 billion worldwide. Fox has released seven X-Men films since 2000 and the latest, X-Men: Days Of Future Past, just brought in $746 million around the globe this summer. In the U.S., the X-Men franchise ranks No. 11 just behind the Transformers in overall box-office receipts, not including merchandising and home video.
The Fantastic Four, meanwhile, might just get killed off for making money for the wrong company. Marvel Chief Executive Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter -- portrayed by The Hollywood Reporter early this summer as the media equivalent of a miserly millionaire who dresses in rags and subsists on stale packets of oatmeal -- apparently was so enraged about Fox rebooting the Fantastic Four film franchise that he's killed all licensing and merchandising for the title. As Bleeding Cool reported, workers in Marvel's offices “pulled down lest Perlmutter see one and have his ire raised.”
Also, it looks as if the Fantastic Four themselves are getting the ax, as Bleeding Cool adds that the upcoming Fantastic Four: The End Is Fourever storyline could be the group's last once it wraps up in early 2015. With the Fantastic Four franchise making $620 million worldwide from two films released since 2005 and with the newest installment releasing in August, cutting off the franchise's ability to generate cash from anything other than the films themselves is no small deal.
As the more than $1 billion produced worldwide by 2012's The Avengers makes clear, however, Marvel just loves getting as many of its high-priced heroes under one roof as possible. Combined, the Marvel Cinematic Universe films with rights owned exclusively by Marvel have made more than $7 billion worldwide at the box office from the release of Iron Man in 2008 through the box-office run of this year's Guardians Of The Galaxy. When all Marvel Comics properties are combined, however, they've produced nearly $7 billion in the U.S. alone, and more than $15 billion worldwide.
Marvel and Disney want all of that, which is why recent murmurs surrounding Marvel, Disney, Sony and Spider-Man might just produce a way forward. Sony is desperately attempting to exit the movie business and, according to The New York Times, might be talking to Marvel about getting Spider-Man back into the Marvel universe as the franchise loses steam.
Sony's original Spider-Man made more than $400 million in the U.S. alone when it released in 2002. Adjusted for inflation, that's more than $566 million. The latest installment, this year's Amazing Spider-Man 2, had a tough time cracking $200 million in the U.S. and made just $700 million worldwide compared to the first film's $890 million 12 years ago. Amazing Spider-Man 3 isn't scheduled for release until 2018, a Spider-Man supervillian movie The Sinister Six is coming in 2016 and Entertainment Weekly notes that a flop by either film could put Spider-Man back into Marvel's hands.
Comic books companies have made a habit of killing off beloved characters from Superman to Captain America to make them profitable again. Sacrificing its own creations to pry money out of Fox and Sony's hands? Marvel's true believers have read similar stories before.
When Disney (DIS) bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion back in 2009, it secured the rights to Marvel's entire comic-book universe including Captain America, Spider-Man, The X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four and The Hulk. It just didn't get the right to put all of them on screen, and it's still a little bitter about it half a decade later.
Sony (SNE) still holds the film rights to Spider-Man and all the villains, sidekicks and other characters created specifically for his books. The folks at 21st Century Fox (FOXA) hold similar rights to both the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Neither Disney nor Marvel are happy about that situation and, recently, issued an edict to Marvel's writers not to develop anything new for the Marvel properties owned by Fox.
X-Men writer Chris Claremont recently appeared on the Nerdist podcast and told Len Wein, Marc Bernardin and Heath Corson that he's been “forbidden to create new characters… all because all new characters become the film property of Fox.” And -- “because why promote Fox material?” -- the Marvel staff has been told to put exactly zero effort into producing new X-Men merchandise.
Keep in mind that the X-Men franchise has brought in $1.3 billion in the United States and more than $3 billion worldwide. Fox has released seven X-Men films since 2000 and the latest, X-Men: Days Of Future Past, just brought in $746 million around the globe this summer. In the U.S., the X-Men franchise ranks No. 11 just behind the Transformers in overall box-office receipts, not including merchandising and home video.
The Fantastic Four, meanwhile, might just get killed off for making money for the wrong company. Marvel Chief Executive Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter -- portrayed by The Hollywood Reporter early this summer as the media equivalent of a miserly millionaire who dresses in rags and subsists on stale packets of oatmeal -- apparently was so enraged about Fox rebooting the Fantastic Four film franchise that he's killed all licensing and merchandising for the title. As Bleeding Cool reported, workers in Marvel's offices “pulled down lest Perlmutter see one and have his ire raised.”
Also, it looks as if the Fantastic Four themselves are getting the ax, as Bleeding Cool adds that the upcoming Fantastic Four: The End Is Fourever storyline could be the group's last once it wraps up in early 2015. With the Fantastic Four franchise making $620 million worldwide from two films released since 2005 and with the newest installment releasing in August, cutting off the franchise's ability to generate cash from anything other than the films themselves is no small deal.
As the more than $1 billion produced worldwide by 2012's The Avengers makes clear, however, Marvel just loves getting as many of its high-priced heroes under one roof as possible. Combined, the Marvel Cinematic Universe films with rights owned exclusively by Marvel have made more than $7 billion worldwide at the box office from the release of Iron Man in 2008 through the box-office run of this year's Guardians Of The Galaxy. When all Marvel Comics properties are combined, however, they've produced nearly $7 billion in the U.S. alone, and more than $15 billion worldwide.
Marvel and Disney want all of that, which is why recent murmurs surrounding Marvel, Disney, Sony and Spider-Man might just produce a way forward. Sony is desperately attempting to exit the movie business and, according to The New York Times, might be talking to Marvel about getting Spider-Man back into the Marvel universe as the franchise loses steam.
Sony's original Spider-Man made more than $400 million in the U.S. alone when it released in 2002. Adjusted for inflation, that's more than $566 million. The latest installment, this year's Amazing Spider-Man 2, had a tough time cracking $200 million in the U.S. and made just $700 million worldwide compared to the first film's $890 million 12 years ago. Amazing Spider-Man 3 isn't scheduled for release until 2018, a Spider-Man supervillian movie The Sinister Six is coming in 2016 and Entertainment Weekly notes that a flop by either film could put Spider-Man back into Marvel's hands.
Comic books companies have made a habit of killing off beloved characters from Superman to Captain America to make them profitable again. Sacrificing its own creations to pry money out of Fox and Sony's hands? Marvel's true believers have read similar stories before.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
the decline of world hunger
Scanning the news, it's easy to think the world is falling apart.
But, on Monday, we got a major piece of good news: hunger is on a major
decline in the world. Since 1990, there's been a sustained and massive
collapse in the number of people who have difficulty accessing food.
The data comes from the 2014 Global Hunger Index, a measure of global hunger from the International Food Policy Research Institute. The index tracks "the percentage of the population that is undernourished, the percentage of children younger than five years of age who are underweight, and the percentage of people who die before the age of five." Malnutrition is particularly bad for children, and poor access to food makes kids way more vulnerable to diseases, the leading cause of child death in the developing world.
The Index goes from zero, which indicates a country with no undernutrition, to 100, a country where everyone goes hungry. Here's the overall score for "developing nations" since 1990, which basically means all countries except for industrialized "developed" nations such as the US, the UK, Japan, and the like:
That's a 39 percent decline over 24 years. That decline in hunger is a massive win for humanity.
Why are things getting better? Credit two things: economic growth and government programs. Global poverty has declined sharply since 1990, especially in India and China, making it easier for people to afford food. Meanwhile, government programs and international aid have made major improvements in getting people access to healthy diets.
Progress on undernutrition hasn't been even. Some countries, like
Swaziland and Iraq, have gotten worse over time. But almost all have
made huge strides — India, as The Hindu's Rukmini Shrinivasan explains, posted one of the largest absolute declines in hunger in the world.
Just another reason to believe that, for all our troubles, we're living through the greatest era in human history.
[via twitter]
The data comes from the 2014 Global Hunger Index, a measure of global hunger from the International Food Policy Research Institute. The index tracks "the percentage of the population that is undernourished, the percentage of children younger than five years of age who are underweight, and the percentage of people who die before the age of five." Malnutrition is particularly bad for children, and poor access to food makes kids way more vulnerable to diseases, the leading cause of child death in the developing world.
The Index goes from zero, which indicates a country with no undernutrition, to 100, a country where everyone goes hungry. Here's the overall score for "developing nations" since 1990, which basically means all countries except for industrialized "developed" nations such as the US, the UK, Japan, and the like:
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2350598/hunger_decline.0.png)
Why are things getting better? Credit two things: economic growth and government programs. Global poverty has declined sharply since 1990, especially in India and China, making it easier for people to afford food. Meanwhile, government programs and international aid have made major improvements in getting people access to healthy diets.
Just another reason to believe that, for all our troubles, we're living through the greatest era in human history.
[via twitter]
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