How To Be A Movie Reviewer June 30, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Humor, Word Play, Writing & Writers.comments closed
To be a movie reviewer, you need to learn how to say something without saying anything in such a way that people reading the review think you said something worth reading.
Consider these two reviews:
Review #1: This is a great movie. Everything about it is fantastic. I am very glad I went to see this movie. It is the best movie I have ever seen. Everyone should go see this movie. This is a must see.
Review #2: In this delightful comedy, the brilliant director and talented actors work together to create magic on the screen, causing viewers to laugh, cry, and leave the theater in a happier frame of mind than when they arrived.
Assuming you didn’t know the reviewer, which movie would you want to see?
That’s the review you want to write.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Quote to Ponder: “I like the word indolence . . . it makes my laziness seem classy.” ~ Bern Williams
Step Into The Glade June 29, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, Poetry.comments closed
Step into the glade
Let down your guard
This place is safe
You are hidden here
No one can see
Through the trees
The shelter of leaves
Allows you to breathe
This place is safe
Hear and heed
The whisper from within
That connects you to
All that has been
And all that ever will be
This place is safe
Inhale its deep scent
Down to your toes
It knows, you see
Who you are and will be.
Aah . . . that’s better!
The Ostrich June 28, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Humor, Joke.comments closed
A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks them for their orders.
The man says, “A hamburger, fries, and a coke,” and turns to the ostrich, “What’s yours?”
“I’ll have the same,” says the ostrich.
Ostrich ~ Wikipedia (in Public Domain)
A short time later the waitress returns with the order. “That will Be $9.40 please” The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.
The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, “A hamburger, fries, and a coke.”
The ostrich says, “I’ll have the same.”
Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.
This becomes routine until the two enter again. “The usual?” asks the waitress.
“No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato, and a salad,” says the man.
“Same,” says the ostrich.
The waitress brings the order and says, “That will be $32.62.” Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.
The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer.
“Excuse me, Sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?”
“Well,” says the man, “several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there.”
“Brilliant!” says the waitress. “Most people would ask for a Million Dollars or something, but you’ll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!”
“That’s right. Whether it’s a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there,” says the man.
The waitress asks, “What’s with the ostrich?”
The man sighs and says, “My second wish was for a tall chick with a big butt and long legs who agrees with everything I say.”
Aah . . . that’s better!
Source: e-mail from unknown author (sent by Joe M.)
Where’s Your Stuff? June 27, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Less IS More, Life Balance.comments closed
Some years back, a tourist from the United States visited the home of a Rabbi and saw a simple room furnished with books, a table, and a bench.
Astonished, the visitor asked, “Rabbi, where’s your stuff?”
The Rabbi replied, “Where’s yours?”
“Mine? I’m just passing through. I’m just a visitor here.”
“So am I.”
Aah . . . that’s better!
Related post: Lightening The Load (SuziCate) * Overlook (365 Simplify)
Source: e-mail from unknown author
Tap Into Your Wise Self June 26, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Magick & Mystery, Mindfulness.comments closed
Tap into your wise self. Listen to the whisper of intuition, the still quiet voice within. Be at peace. Spirit instills the knowingness we need.
Take time to wonder, be curious, explore. Be open to mystery and synchronicity. See the miracle in a grain of sand, the scent of an orange, a hug from a friend.
Let go of all that doesn’t serve.
Things resonate. Objects speak to us. Or they don’t. If they don’t, allow them to drift away.
Tune out the incessant chatter of fear mongers who woo us with distraction after distraction after distraction.
We are, all of us, villain, victim and hero. We cycle from one to the next ~ a long thread of a story begun once upon a time.
At times, the connection seems no more than a mirage. As ephemeral as the Cheshire Cat.
We feel lost and alone. Back at Square One.
Again.
Instead of forcing the issue, we let go. Our impatience fades away.
And, after a 10-hour sleep, the connection resurfaces on its own.
And with it our Cheshire grins.
We are connected. Of course we are.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Be All That You Can Be June 25, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Mindfulness.comments closed
Become silent and listen.
Trust your original, spontaneous, generous, kind, and loving nature.
When you’re on the right track, you know it. You feel the flow of life and are more at ease.
That knowledge creates an amazing level of joy and peace in your life. It releases your creativity, and increases your energy level.
You begin to discard the various masks you wear. You worry less about your imaginary reputation with others. You accept yourself as you are and others as they are.
With an honest heart as your guide, you strive to live each day as if it were your last.
And your first.
Love and laughter shine from your eyes. Your actions reflect genuine kindness and concern. You smile at your reflection.
Grateful for the many blessings in life, you keep minor annoyances in perspective, instead of blowing them out of proportion.
You learn from your mistakes, encouraged by the knowledge that you can do better.
Transformation doesn’t happen all at once. You become. It takes time.
Do not give up if you are not yet who you want to be. Just be more fully the best you already are.
You can be an outstanding human being ~> you just can’t be a perfect one.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Related post: When We Blunder About * A Step of Faith (SuziCate) * We All Can Be A Ripple (Did That Just Happen?) * Your Words Echo (T4D)
Daybreak June 24, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Life Balance, Nature, Poetry.comments closed
Owls grow silent
Grass starts to glow
Birds start singing
The cock starts to crow
Sunrise is here
Daylight has broken
All without orders
Having been spoken
Aah . . . that’s better!
Homeward Bound June 23, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, People.comments closed
Continued from . . . Things Don’t Go According To Hoyle
Despite the fire at the headquarters building, which burned up discharge dates and orders, dad received word that he was heading home.
On October 12th, he wrote:
“Day before yesterday we received official word that we would report to the depot on the 13th. There was some hustle and some bustle as we scurried about the office in an attempt to close all cases as soon as possible. With such a goal as we had, it was not difficult. By evening we were free of all investigative work.
That evening, Swinnerton and I sat around and discussed with pride some of our most interesting cases and the reports on which we were complimented. We then realized that our year here had not been wasted. We had gained a great deal of knowledge and had had a great experience. The boat leaves Korea on 20 Oct. and is supposed to hit Frisco on 8 Nov. Hope to see you about a month after you receive this letter.”
Wikipedia ~ Victory Ships (in Public Domain)
On October 14th:
“I expect to be here at the depot the rest of the week. This is really a vacation except that there is not much to do for recreation.”
“Since I have been here at the depot, I have met about 15 persons that were in my company during basic. Most of them are PFC or Corporal ~ they are a little envious of my stripes. It is hard to believe that I am actually on the way home. Looking back, it doesn’t seem such a long time since I enlisted.”
U.S. Army Technical Sergeant Rank Insignia, in use 1942-1955 (in Public Domain)
What a difference a few stripes make!
On October 17th, to Marjorie:
“When I came to the depot I had to put on my tech sgt. stripes. They really do wonders.”
“When the men fall out for details, all top three grades are excused to do whatever they want.”
“Out of the 1300 men leaving on the General Patrick, there are only about 10 first sgts., 10 tech sgts., and 15 staff sgts.”
“If we don’t get put in charge of details on the ship, we can loaf all the way.”
“I’m hoping to be one of the fellows to just loaf.”
On October 19th, to Marjorie:
“We have wonderful washrooms here in the depot. That is ~ if you like to wash and shave in ice water without a mirror and don’t mind not having any place to hang a towel or lay your toilet articles, and if you don’t mind standing in about two inches of water on the floor.”
“Tomorrow morning we get up at 3 o’clock and get ready to get on the train that takes us some 40 miles to the boat. By this time tomorrow I will probably be getting on the boat. Thank goodness my time in this country has nearly come to an end.”
“Yesterday, we were given numbers for the order in which we board the ship tomorrow. Out of 1300+ men, I got number 4. That means that I will be about the first to board the boat.”
“With the large camera and several books and boxes that I am carrying, my duffel bag is so full I have to wear an extra jacket or two all the time in order to get it closed. What a lot of fun I’m going to have carrying it half a mile to the train.”
Dad left Korea in 1947, three years before the start of the Korean War in 1950.
Aah . . . that’s better!
After leaving Korea, dad obtained an electrical engineering degree from Northeastern University in Boston, accepted a job with Bell Labs in New Jersey, met mom, got married, had four kids, got his master’s degree, assisted with the launch of Telestar, traveled for work and pleasure, and enjoyed many hobbies (photography, woodworking, sailing, canoeing, hiking, gardening, camping, ham radio, reading).
Dad died two years ago today after celebrating Father’s Day with his 4 kids.
And his 9 grandkids (not all pictured).
I’ve enjoyed sharing dad’s words (before he became a dad) with you.
Have You Lost Your Mind? June 22, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Humor, People.comments closed
“They tell me that you’ll lose your mind when you grow older.
“What they don’t say is that you won’t miss it very much.”
~ Malcolm Cowley (1898-1989)
Aah . . . that’s better!
Bert, That Bloke From Maintenance June 21, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Joke.comments closed
A toothpaste factory had a problem. They sometimes shipped empty boxes without a tube of toothpaste inside. This challenged their perceived quality with buyers and distributors.
The CEO assembled his top people. They decided to hire an external engineering company to solve the empty boxes problem.
The project followed the usual process: budget and project sponsor allocated, request for proposals, and third-parties selected.
Six months (and £2 million) later they had a fantastic solution – on time, on budget, and high quality. Everyone in the project was pleased.
They installed a high-tech precision scale. Whenever a toothpaste box weighed less than it should: a bell sounded, lights flashed, and the line stopped.
Someone would walk over, remove the defective box, and press a button to re-start the line.
As a result of the new package monitoring process, no empty boxes shipped out of the factory. With no more customer complaints, the CEO felt the £2 million was well spent.
At the end of the first month, the CEO reviewed the line statistics report and discovered the number of empty boxes picked up by the scale in the first week was consistent with projections, however, the next three weeks were zero!
The estimated rate should have been closer to a dozen boxes a day.
Puzzled, the CEO went down to the factory floor, viewed the part of the line where the precision scale was installed, and observed that just ahead of the £2 million solution sat a £20 desk fan blowing empty boxes off the belt and into a bin.
He found the line supervisor and asked, “What’s with the fan?”
“Oh, that,” the supervisor replied, “Bert, the bloke from maintenance, put it there because he got tired of walking over, removing the box, and re-starting the line every time the bloody bell rang.”
Aah . . . that’s better!
Source: e-mail from unknown author (sent by Granny1947)
Spirit Lights The Way 