The Last Debate

I finished reading "The Last Debate" by Jim Lehrer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It is the night of the presidential debate. The election is eight days away. Republican nominees James Meredith, a fundamentalist Christian whose ambitions border on white supremacy, is pitted against four reporters who have just discovered damaging information that could ruin his career. What unfolds during The Last Debate will change the course of electoral politics and the news business forever. A satirical and absorbing story of the behind-the-scenes world of news journalism also exposes the duplicitous posing and posturing of made-for-TV political events.

Prairie Home Companion

I watched the DVD "Prairie Home Companion."

Synopsis

A comic backstage fable about a fictitious radio variety show that has managed to survive in the age of television. On a rainy Saturday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, fans file into the Fitzgerald Theater to see "A Prairie Home Companion," a staple of radio station WLT, not knowing that WLT has been sold to a Texas conglomerate and that tonight's show will be the last. The movie is a celebrity version of Garrison Keillor's radio show of the same name. The movie takes place during the last live performance of the show as the new radio network owners have sent an axeman (Tommy Lee Jones)to close the show. Another fantasy element is thrown in as an angel (Virginia Madsen) stalks the theater to take one of the performers. Keillor essentially plays himself, even using his own name for the character. Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep play the singing Johnson Sisters, with Lindsay Lohan as a suicide-obsessed daughter of Streep. Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly are hilarious as the slightly off-color singing cowboy duo, Dusty & Lefty. Kevin Kline is a security guard who act as the narrator. Maya Rudolph also appears as a pregnant stage coordinator.

Enjoy It

"There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second." — Logan Pearsall Smith

What About Bob

We watched the DVD "What About Bob."

Synopsis

Doctor Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), an egotistical psychiatrist in New York City, is looking forward to his forthcoming appearance on a "Good Morning America" telecast during which he plans to brag about Baby Steps, his new book about emotional disorder theories in which he details his philosophy of treating mental patients and their phobias. Meanwhile, Bob Wiley (Bill Murray)is a recluse who is so afraid to leave his own apartment that he has to talk himself out the door. When Bob is pawned off on Leo by a psychiatrist colleague, Bob becomes attached to Leo. Leo finds Bob extremely annoying. When Leo accompanies his wife Fay, his daughter Anna, and his son Siggy to a peaceful New Hampshire lakeside cottage for a month-long vacation, Leo thinks he's been freed from Bob. Leo expects to mesmerize his family with his prowess as a brilliant husband and remarkable father who knows all there is to know about instructing his wife and raising his kids. But Bob isn't going to let Leo enjoy a quiet summer by the lake. By cleverly tricking the telephone operator at the doctor's exchange, Bob discovers the whereabouts of Leo and his family. Despite his phobia about traveling alone, Bob somehow manages to talk himself onto a bus, and he arrives in New Hampshire. Leo's vacation comes to a screeching halt the moment he sees Bob. With his witty personality and good sense of humor, Bob quickly becomes an annoyance to Leo, but not to Fay, Anna, and Siggy, because they think Bob is fun while Leo is dull. Fearing that he's losing his family to Bob, Leo frantically tries to find a way to make Bob go back to New York, and it's not as easy as Leo had hoped. Leo finds himself stepping outside the law to try to get Bob to stay away from Fay, Anna, and Siggy, Leo slowly goes berserk and makes plans to kill Bob.

Easy

"Always think of what you have to do as easy and it will become so." - Émile Coué.

Memory

"Memory is the personal journalism of the soul." — Richard Schickel

What Is Good

"What is beautiful is not always good, but what is good is always beautiful." -Unknown

Happiness

"Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life." - Burton Hills

Time

“Time moves in one direction, memory in another.” - William Gibson

Let Us So Live

“Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” - Mark Twain

The Astronaut Farmer

We watched the DVD "The Astronaut Farmer"

Synopsis

From the time he was a child, Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) had only one goal: to be an astronaut. Earning his degree in aerospace engineering and joining the Air Force as a pilot, Farmer was a natural for NASAs astronaut training program and was well on his way when a family situation forced him to drop out and return home effectively ending his career. But Farmer was not a man to let anything stand in the way of a dream. He spent the next decade and every cent he had building his own rocket in a barn on his ranch in Story, Texas, working toward the day when he could triumphantly launch it into space. By himself. Sharing his vision are his wife Audie (Virginia Madsen) and their children daughters Sunshine and Stanley, and 15-year-old Shepard, already a budding engineer and eager to serve as mission control on the big day. Even Audie's father, Hal (Bruce Dern), on hand to lend moral support, can see how his son-in-laws unwavering commitment has inspired the family with a common dream something he himself was never able to achieve as a father. On the eve of the long-anticipated launch, an unexpected problem arises. Farmer's efforts to secure 10,000 pounds of high-grade fuel catch the attention of the FBI and subsequently the media, who encamp in droves outside his gate, speculating wildly about this space cowboy and his homemade rocket. Farmer finds himself depicted on TV screens worldwide as a renegade hero, inspiring an outpouring of popular support, while simultaneously drawing heavy scrutiny and surveillance from the FBI, CIA, FAA and the U.S. military all of which see Farmer as a potential risk to civilian safety and will take the necessary steps to shut down his operation. But Farmer knows this is his only chance, not only to reach his goal of breaking through the Earths atmosphere but to instill in his children the courage to pursue their own ideals and never give up no matter the odds. He will not let himself be grounded again.

Getting Older

"The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been." — Madeleine L’Engle

Live So Long

“If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” - Leon Eldred

White Widow

I finished reading "White Widow" by Jim Lehrer

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jack T. Oliver has a simple, quiet life. He and his wife, Loretta, live in a cozy little house in Corpus Christi. Jack has a job he loves as a driver for the Great Western Trailways bus line, on an easy route, Schedule 726, Galveston to Corpus Christi. Back and forth in a day. In a few weeks, Jack is going to be promoted to Master Operator in recognition of his years of perfect service and on-time driving. It's a good life. Until a White Widow boards his bus, on a one-way ticket from Victoria to Corpus Christi. A White Widow is a wild card, a woman traveling alone who can change the course of a driver's life, and not always for the best. Some bus drivers never meet one, but one is all it takes. What happens when Jack Oliver's White Widow passes through his life is as unforgettable as it is irrevocable. Jack has never seen her before. He never has a conversation with her, and touches her only once, to help her up the steps into his bus. He never learns her name. And he falls completely, passionately, irrationally in love with her. Within weeks, he loses everything he has, a few things he never had, and some he never thought about until they were gone.

An Optimist

"An optimist is the human personification of spring." - Susan J. Bissonette

Priorities

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” - Stephen Covey

Possibilities

"We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

Habits

“First we make our habits, then our habits make us.” - Charles C. Noble

The Present Moment

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha

Love

“Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.” - Eric Fromm

Giving

"You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving." — Anonymous

The Special Prisoner

I finished reading "The Special Prisoner" by Jim Lehrer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Special Prisoner takes its title from the designation the Japanese government gave U.S. airmen held prisoner during World War II — an indication of the severity with which these foreign devils responsible for bombing Japanese cities were to be treated. John Quincy Watson was a skilled young pilot flying B-29s over Japan when he was shot down and taken prisoner in 1945. Fifty years later, now a prominent religious figure nearing retirement, Bishop Watson believes he has long since overcome the excruciating memories of his months as a POW. But a chance sighting of the now equally elderly Japanese officer who repeatedly tortured him instantly transports the Bishop back to that unendurable time, and he finds himself overwhelmed by an uncontrollable desire for vengeance. The result for Watson is both a vivid return to the horrors of his past and the triggering of a new series of events that are also horrific — and tragic. Engaging and emotionally poignant, The Special Prisoner delves into the complicated issue of war guilt and forgiveness, starkly portrayed in the characters of an officer from a country that refuses to admit any wrongdoing and a clergyman who is committed to a belief that to forgive is divine.

Intuition

"It is by logic we prove. It is by intuition we discover." - Henri Poincare

The End

"Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end." -Unknown

Pleasure

"Pleasure for an hour, a bottle of wine; pleasure for a year, marriage; pleasure for a lifetime, a garden." — Chinese saying

The Price Of Success

"The price of success is much lower than the price of failure." - Zig Ziglar

Reign Over Me

We watched the DVD "Reign Over Me." It reminded me of "The Fisher King."

Synopsis

Former college roomates Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) and Alan Johnson (Don Chaedle) meet up again by chance on a Manhattan street corner. Five years after losing his family on 9/11, Charlie - once a successful dentist - has retreated from his life, and Alan is stunned to see the changes in his formerly gregarious friend. At the same time, Alan - who should be enjoying his beautiful wife (Jada Pinkett Smith), children and career - is overwhelmed by his responsibilities. Their rekindled relationship becomes a lifeline for the two men, who are both in need of a trusted friend at this pivotal moment in their lives.

Knowing What You Want

"One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it." - Sidney Howard

Change

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." — Victor Frankl

If You

"If you recline, you decline. If you sit, you quit. If you don't use it, you will lose it." - Denise Austin

Magnificent World

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." — Henry Miller

The Good Of Others

"He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own." — Confucius

A Person Without A Sense Of Humor

"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs - jolted by every pebble in the road." - Henry Ward Beecher

The Franklin Affair

I finished reading "The Franklin Affair" by Jim Lehrer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

R Taylor arrives in Philadelphia for the funeral of his longtime friend Dr. Wally Rush with a heavy heart. Not only has the world lost one of its preeminent, Pulitzer Prize—winning American Revolution historians, but R has lost his mentor, the man who led him to devote his life’s work to the study of “The First American,” Benjamin Franklin. The bond between them was sealed when R did Wally a favor that could never be revealed. But Wally saved one final secret for R, disclosed in a letter conveyed by the will’s executor. Written in the slow, painful script of the professor’s last days, the note delivers an incredible bombshell. Wally, it seems, had stumbled upon twelve handwritten pages in a code commonly used by spies during the revolutionary war. The pages refer to George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, and level a shocking charge–that Benjamin Franklin committed a heinous crime. Wally, not wanting to foul the image of his lifelong hero, had kept this monumental secret until his death. But as R races to unravel the mystery, he faces an onslaught of obstacles. Vicious blackmail, a threat of sabotage against his own career, and grave personal doubts threaten to overtake R as he struggles with a discovery that has the potential to completely alter the fabric of American history.

Money

"Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver." — Ayn Rand

100 Tiny Tips To Improve Your Mood

Even the most happy-go-lucky person in the world has a bad mood now and then, but the difference between moving on and having a bad day all depends on what you do about it. There are plenty of ways to shake off a funky mood, and we’ve listed 100 of the best ways to do it here.

Recreation
If you’re feeling unlike yourself, get out there and do something you like to do.

1. Play with a pet: Unless you’ve got a particularly surly animal, playing with a pet is sure to pick up your mood.
2. Cook: Chop up some vegetables or tenderize some meat to take out your frustrations. Do even better by cooking food that’s found to improve your mood.
3. Dance: Loosen up and lose yourself in music and movement to shake off a sour mood.
4. Sing: Sing something upbeat, and you can’t help but feel happy.
5. Play games: Concentrate on a game to get your mind off of whatever’s bringing you down.
6. Watch a movie: Lose yourself in a movie to feel better.
7. Get a massage: Let someone work out the kinks, and you’ll come out with a nicer mood.
8. Get a mani/pedi: Get pampered, and you can’t help but feel good.
9. Garden: Interact with nature and get some sunshine, and you’ll feel better. Check out these tips to find out how you can improve your garden and mood at the same time.
10. Play guitar: Think about chords, and you won’t be able to dwell on your troubles.
11. Read a book: Lose yourself in a fun story for a quick pick-me-up.
12. Create art: Make something beautiful to brighten your day.
13. Fly a kite: It’s hard to not be happy when you’re flying a kite.
14. Karaoke: Make a fool of yourself, and you’ll forget about your troubles. Interactive music like karaoke has been found to be therapeutic.
15. Have sex: Get cozy, and you’ll enjoy a rush of endorphins and some fun recreation time.
17. Enjoy your hobbies: Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, do it, and you’ll get a mood boost.

Exercise

Exercise is a great mood booster, offering a way to concentrate, feel good about yourself, and increase endorphins.

18. Martial arts: Take on martial arts to discipline yourself and get your frustrations out.
19. Breathe: Do breathing exercises to calm down an otherwise foul mood.
20. Stretch: Loosen up, and you’ll feel better.
21. Take a walk: Clear your mind with a quick walk around the block.
22. Do yoga: Concentrate on yoga poses, and you’ll feel better in no time. Try these mood-altering poses to turn your day around.
23. Boxing: Take out your frustrations with boxing.
24. Run: For a quick mood booster, just run away from it all.
25. Swim: Lose yourself in the repetitive motion of swimming.
26. Weight training: Concentrate on building muscles, not whatever’s bothering you.
27. Go hiking: Go hiking for a scenic, peaceful way to feel better.

Food

What you put in your body can have a great effect on how you feel, so make sure you’re eating right for a good mood.

28. Eat chocolate: Chocolate is great for endorphins, and of course, it tastes great.
29. Eat consistently: If you eat every 4 to 5 hours, you’ll have constant blood sugar and be less subject to highs and lows during the day.
30. Avoid refined carbs: Carbohydratess will give you blood sugar swings that can leave you feeling blue.
31. Fish: Eat fatty fish to get omega-3s, which boost seratonin and improve receptiveness to seratonin.
32. Coffee: Drink a cup of coffee, and you’ll get a boost energy, and a kick start to mental pleasure centers.
33. Drink tea: The calming ritual of drinking tea can make you feel better.
34. Turkey: This poultry helps produce dopamine, which elevates your mood and prevents depression.
35. Drink milk: The tryptophan in milk will help you create seratonin.
36. Eat protein: Protein slows absorption of carbs, and it will boost your productivity.
37. Take vitamins: Make sure you’re firing on all cylinders by taking your vitamins.
38. Enjoy whole grains: With complex carbs, you’ll get a slow release of seratonin.
39. Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts offer one of the best sources for selenium, which maintains mood and fights depression.
40. Broccoli: Broccoli offers B-vitamins and folic acid, both of which will help your mood.
41. Eat breakfast: Start your day right, and you’re less likely to feel down later.
42. Anything yummy: By eating anything that tastes good, you’ll spark mood-boosting endorphins.

Mental Power

Put your mind to work on your mood with these simple tips.

43. Meditate: Try meditation to shift the focus away from your bad mood.
44. Try hypnosis: Hypnosis is a great way to get your mood level.
45. Change your perspective: Consider how your troubles might actually be good.
46. Recite affirmations: Focus on a few simple phrases to remind yourself to be happy. Affirming your goals has a great way of making you look at a more positive future.
47. Imagine your perfect place: Put yourself somwhere else for a moment.
Count your blessings: Remind yourself of all of the good things in your life.
48. Laugh: Find something funny to feel better.
49. Forgive yourself: Don’t dwell on your mistakes.
50. Concentrate: Think about something: anything but what’s causing your bad mood.
51. Look forward to tomorrow: Thinking about tomorrow will remind you that a better day awaits.
52. Smile: Fake yourself into happiness with a smile. With a forced smile, you’ll send a signal to your brain to be happy.
53. Make fun of yourself: Think about how ridiculous you’re being.
54. Set attainable goals: Set goals to think of the future.

Social Aids

You don’t have to fight a bad mood by yourself. Call on friends, family and strangers to help you feel happier.

55. Join a group: Find a way to interact with people for a boost of happiness.
56. Attend a party: Even if you don’t feel like it, attending a party can boost your mood.
57. Call a friend: Share your troubles with a friend to feel better.
58. Go out to lunch: Visit with a friend or loved one, and you’ll lose your troubles for a while.
59. Make friends: Find a new friend for a nice pick-me-up.
60. Participate in a discussion: Get your mind moving to pull yourself out of a funk.

On the Outside

Step outside of yourself to improve your mood.

61. Volunteer: Do something altruistic for others and you’ll feel better about yourself.
62. Act happy: Trick yourself out of your bad mood.
63. Take action towards a goal: Even if it’s a small step, taking action towards an attainable goal feels good.
64. Finish your to-do list: Although it’s easier said than done, closing out your to do list is sure to make you feel better.
65. Wear blue: The color blue offers relaxation, and color therapy has been found to be very effective.
66. Forgive someone: Make someone else feel better, and you will too.
67. Dress well: If you look good on the outside, you’ll feel better about yourself.
68. Make plans: Give yourself something to look forward to.
69. Go to bed at a regular time: Get your Circadian rhythm in order for a better day.
70. Random act of kindness: Practice a random act of kindness to give yourself a boost.
71. Practice deep breathing: Use deep breathing to calm yourself.
72. Visualize: Use your mind’s eye to see a better day.
73. Stay busy: Keep yourself busy, and you won’t have time to think about troubles.
74. Learn something new: Expand your horizons for a nicer mood.
75. Leave your house/work/etc.: Sometimes you just need to get away, so get out and do something to feel better.
76. Mentor: Teach someone else how to follow in your footsteps for an ego boost that will help your mood.
77. Donate: Do something nice with your money, and you’ll feel good about yourself.
78. Blow off steam: So do something enjoyable for a pick-me-up.
79. Return a favor: Have you asked someone for help in the past? Now’s a good time to return the favor.
80. Take a bath or shower: Wash away your troubles.
81. Write it out: Get your bad mood out on paper and let it go.
82. Indulge yourself: Whether it’s chocolate, or just reading the paper, do something you like, if only for a moment.
83. Play with a baby or small child: Pick up the carefree fun of a child.
84. Give someone a compliment: Make someone feel good, and you will too.
85. Check out stupid videos online: Take a mini-break to smile and laugh for a while.
86. Cry: If you’re troubled, let it out to feel better.
87. Pet your dog or cat: The act of petting is enough to calm most people down.

Environment

Change what’s around you to improve your mood.

88. Get a burst of morning light: Morning light will reset your inner clock and boost your spirits.
89. Get away from negative people: Remove yourself from the people who are bringing you down.
90. Minimalize your decorations: Create a clean, simple environment for clarity of mood.
91. Practice aromatherapy: Use aromatherapy to lighten your mood. Try mood-boosting scents, like eucalyptus and ylang ylang.
92. Redecorate: Change whatever it is that you don’t like to feel better.
93. Organize: Get rid of clutter, and bring order to your environment.
94. Listen to music: Play music to keep things flowing and relaxed.
95. Get in the sun: Get natural light for a mood boost.
96. Take a nap: If lack of sleep is what’s causing your foul mood, catch up on your sleep.
97. Fresh flowers: Bring something beautiful into your environment for a mood boost.
98. Use a water feature: Even if it’s just a tabletop fountain, water can have a calming effect.
99. Full-spectrum light: Beat winter blues with light therapy.
100. Color therapy: Get relaxed with blues and softer hues to feel better.

By Jessica Hupp from Bootstrapper