Fresh Communications

You've probably seen one before. It's a video that shows a person's hand writing words on a white background. I don't know how it works but it's quite fascinating. You enter the text you want into the software and it formats the writing. I've been trying one out this year called Video Scribe. As with all software, it can be glitchy and difficult to export, but that could just be my own technical inexperience. I'm including a link to the one that I posted on YouTube recently. I produced it for an educational service. Maybe it will inspire you. It is also available as an iPad app called Everywhere.

Check it out.

https://youtu.be/mZduBcuGD8o

It seems remarkable that one of the most famous vocalizations recorded in North American films and TV is the scream. It's a sound clip from a 1951 movie that has been edited in over 200 times in various movies such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Disney cartoons. The actor who voiced the famous scream was Sheb Wooley and it was first used in The Charge at Feather Creek. Obviously, Shebs vocalization has been deemed so effective that it has echoed through the decades to be the most famous scream on the silver screen. It makes me wonder, what sound will I be remembered for? Check it out

http://youtu.be/cdbYsoEasio

If Only I Had Hair

According to Stylecraft, a skin care consultant firm, there's a new hair lose remedy. Honey, Yes that's right, they prescribed honey for those who are follicly challenged. There's a multitude of companies who suggest a variety of cures for those who have little or no hair. There are all manner of herbal, chemical, natural and unnatural options that may to solve hair issues. I know men and ladies who have been at various states of desperation to find answers the their hair dilemmas.

But honey, that sounds interesting. The mind boggles to understand how that might work. It is suggested that the afflicted person rub pure honey (none of that pasteurized stuff) directly on the scalp. Hmmmm, sounds like a rather sticky situation.

For me, my hair departure began in my mid 20's. A bit early I felt. At least it could have hung around to see my children grown and then people would understand that I had earned my "mature look" from raising a family and braving the difficulties of child rearing, but no it decided that I should have a shining visage in my youth. At first it was a major concern. I can remember thinking "If only I had hair life would be differentt." I had great consternation over the lose of something that I cherished, something that I had grown to love, my flowing locks. I seriously considered taking drastic and costly steps to alter my scalp.

A friend of mine and I, who was also follicaly challenged, often discussed options. One evening he came to visit me at my home. When he entered the door he wore a rather wry smile. A smile that belied the fact that he had some secret you wanted to share with me. Sure enough out of the bag he produced a can of spray hair. First we laughed until we cried because of the hilarity of the idea. After the laughter subsided he looked at me and said, "want to try it?" I placed a towel on my shoulders and he proceeded like a man possessed as he sprayed the brown substance on my scalp. As he sprayed he began to laugh with giddy enthusiasm. The laughter captured my imagination and I thought this could be really good or really bad. To be honest, I secretly hoped it would work. That this concoction would transform my wasteland to a flourishing crop of hair. Well, after he was finished I ran to the bathroom to observe in the mirror the miracle I hoped for. What resulted from the experiment was side aching laughter. In a dim light the hair I did possess looked a little thicker, but under normal lighting it was a comedy of errors. It looked as though my head was covered with a thin layer of brown mud. It was nothing that would pass public scrutiny. After the merriment that evening my friend and I discussed other serious options. He said that he had booked an appointment with a hair loss professional who specialized in the sale of toupees. He said that he had high hopes for this meeting and everything went well until the man introduced himself, his name was Harry. At that point my friend lost his composure and bought a close to the appointment. He looked at me with that wry smile again and suggested that we if we went together maybe they would give us a two for one deal. The suggestion produced more laughter. Eventually we decided that we would accept the inevitable and face the world together as men who were brilliant and bald. We decided to abandon frivolous and expensive hair remedies and accept our fate as those chosen to shine on. We consoled our selves with the thought that "The Lord is just and the Lord is fair, he gave some brains and the others hair."

There are things that you can change and things that you cannot. Our choice is to accept the things we cannot change, accept the things we can't and find the wis "dome" to know the difference. (It is fortunate for us that short hair and baldness are now in fashion.)

Sept 5 2014

Yes,I Can

Root beer was popularized in 1876 by dentist Charles Hires and is a drink that is consumed mostly by the North American population. It is rare to find a root beer drink in other parts of the world. What makes North Americans thirsty for this flavor of refreshment? Who knows but I know why I like it. It is different, it is unique. There is something about the way it strikes my palate that sends be back to my childhood. My grandfather took me out to A&W for a hamburger and a root beer. Grandpa was a man who had a zest for life. His appreciation of food tastes was unparalleled in my experience. On one occasion while savoring a piece of my grandmothers apple pie he said."I wish I was a giraffe so I could taste it all the way down." Before we arrived, he described the drink as the most thirst quenching drink he had ever had. I, on the other hand, was more interested in the hamburger but when I tasted that root beer I just had to have more. Perhaps it was the enthusiasm that my grandfather possessed towards the beverage or it was my adventurous nature but there was something about the experience that gave me a sense of well being. The feeling that everything was going to be okay. For me root beer fosters the idea that yes, I can enjoy life.

The Thinker, created by the sculptor Rodin in 1880 depicted Dante in his epic poem, The Divine Comedy. It is considered to be the most important piece of Italian literature. The Thinker is supposed to be Dante sitting looking through the Gates of Hell. Hmmm, I wonder what he saw? The story states that he is deeply contemplating his path to Heaven. To get to God he must travel through hell. I think it would be fair to say that we all seek our own version of heaven. The question is are you willing to pass through the hell of this life to get there. As Dante contemplated his path he thought deeply about how he would get through. What do you think deeply about? How will you get through? It's easy to get stuck in hell and forget that there is a heaven waiting. Your thoughts dictate your success.

I'm Smiling Because I Have No Idea What Is Going On

Sometimes there are things that are so clear. You wonder why others can't see what's going on. Other things take work. Apparently, that is what time and space are for....understanding what is going on and making necessary adjustments.

During the Great Depression, popcorn was fairly inexpensive at 5–10 cents a bag and became popular. While other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for many struggling farmers. During World War II, sugar rations diminished candy production so what did people turn to satisfy the munchies? Popcorn! Apparently they consumed three times as much popcorn as they had before. (Encyclopedia Popcornica 2014) Yes, there really is a popcorn encyclopedia.

Well, that is certainly unexpected. Imagine, in the midst of so much global difficulty there was something that was popping in profits and popularity. Popcorn.

Popcorn kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. Pressure builds inside the kernel, and a small explosion (or "pop") is the end result.

Is it possible that the pressure you are experiencing could lead to increased satisfaction? Yes, look at the kernels of your abilities. Find your strengths and apply them. Allow the heat to make you expand and profit from your difficulties.

1. Increased life expectancy

2. Ability to think clearly in diffficult situations

3. Positive effect on relationships

4. It can yield the understanding that there is great wealth in mistakes and failures

5. You become a pleasant person to be around

6. You become wiser

7. It creates the ability to be present and live in the moment

Colin Pyett is a 17-year-old with an unusual passion. He loves to defy gravity and he does so by riding a unicycle, juggling and practicing levitation. Just to be clear, it's not just any unicycle. He progressed from a regular sized unicycle to a 5 foot unicycle and then to a 7 foot unicycle, he certainly is someone to look up to. Let me bring more clarity, it's not just some juggling, he juggles knives, flames, pins and well almost anything. He was recently ejected from a shopping center because he was juggling base balls in the sports section of department store. (Why did they do that? Don't they realize that if they actually had a juggler in the store they would  attract more customers?)

Back to the story. Colin started juggling at the age of 10. He recalls seeing someone riding a unicycle and said, "wow, that's what I want to do." He hounded his parents until they agreed to let him buy one, if he saved up for it. Just as soon as he mastered that unicycle he wanted a 5 foot unicycle and that did not hold him back because now he rides a 7 foot unicycle quite proficiently. At the time that he was learning the 5 foot unicycle he said to himself, "why don't I add in juggling?" So he did.  Colin can juggle up to 3 items and is determined to handle 4. if I could bottle his enthusiasm for juggling etc.....hmmmm.

This is the success story of a young man who realized that he had the ability to understand balance. He told me that when he handles objects he can tell how much energy to exert to juggle them. He has this sort of kinesthetic connection to objects. This is fascinating because I believe that when individuals find their strength or the thing that really works well, that they should focus on that and promoted and development it until the point where they could make a living doing it. That is exactly what Colin is doing, attempting to promote himself as a performer. Yes, he is, at the age of 17 just finished designing his own business cards. They read, Colin Pyett Outstanding, Suprising, Amazing. Unicycling Juggling and Illusionist. To book him contact him at gazerpyett@gmail.com

So, what is Colin's moto?

"You can accomplish what seems impossible with focus and hard work. Never give up." 

Ride on Colin, Ride on!

According to researcher Lu Fong, in her article "How Much of Happiness is Due to Genetics?" Approximately 50% of our happiness is due to genetics. Some people have the ability to produce more serotonin. But when it comes down to it, the other 50% is your decision.

Some people cause happiness where ever they go; others when ever they go. Oscar Wilde. So, what happens when you are around?

Our genes do act as supporting characters in the drama of our life but the real show stoppers are our determined choices to be happy with our life.....or not. Freeman

 So, bring a little happiness to your life today. Find something to be happy about.