Category: Happiness

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Three short poems I wrote tonight in eight minutes

An exercise in the co-op management workshop I attended tonight put me in charge of motivating a team of poetry writers to produce poems; and then measure our production against the forecasts that I provided before we got started. Happy to say, my team of 7 awesome poem writers produced way above expectations, with many submitting more than one poem in each of two rounds of writing – that were each four minutes long. We had fun!

Here are my submissions. What do you think?

On a cool summer’s eve
I think about politics
I think about Wednesday
I think about going somewhere this weekend
The end of the workweek
Beginning of fun!!!
Oh, I like fun.
But, wait. My job is writing poems ….
So, really, I am having fun all week.
I guess I will need to work harder on the weekend:
To have MORE fun.
Sounds like a job.
Sounds like work.
I love work. read more

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John Cleese on oversensitivity & taking PC way too far

John Cleese
Source: The Big Think
John Cleese points out that all humour is critical – even the inclusive type and gives the example: “How do you make God laugh? Tell him your plans.” But in today’s environment of hyper-sensitivity over political correctness, many instances of humour are now viewed as unkind.

The reasons for this may be, as Cleese relates, this: “Robin Skinner said something very interesting to me: if people cannot control their own emotions they have to start trying to control other people’s behaviour.” And well, see the rest of what he says for yourself. It’s a quick watch, and worthwhile. read more

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Adam Grant says: Be an original thinker – and possibly change the world

Adam Grant
Source: TED
Adam Grant gives a TED Talk on The surprising habits of original thinkers. It’s lovely.

Innovate, procrastinate, take risk, try, get messy, Adam suggests. Try something new – because you could change the world. And remember, creative people are on a different time schedule. A quote I love from this TED Talk: “You call it procrastination. I call it thinking.”

Thanks, Adam!

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My affirmation for the year 2016 (and many more years to come)

Ace of Cups from Haindl Tarot
Ace of Cups from Haindl Tarot
I’m sure I’ll be able to put my 2016 personal resolution to use for many more years to come. It’s a good one!

I wish to live in gratitude, with happiness – and put the gifts God has given me to the greatest possible good use

~ Kimi Wei

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A thoughtful Jim Carrey promotes love over fear in short video

Jim Carrey speaks
Source: Screenshot from Jim Carrey’s The Meaning Video
In this sweet little video, actor Jim Carrey urges us to choose love over fear – and to have some fun with life. There are pictures of Jim sitting quietly and talking thoughtfully … he’s a surprisingly good looking and interesting man when not portraying characters that are dangerous, demented or disgusting. I enjoyed so much seeing this different side of a social icon whom frankly, I have often found disturbing.

Hat tip to Theresa Lam for the nice share

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Must watch! The cutest munchkin versions of famous woman professionals

Viola Davis
Source: YouTube Fast-Forward Girls 2015 video by GoldieBlox
GoldieBlox’s Fast-Forward Girls project celebrates superstar women and the girls they inspire – 10 women role models who have “broken the mold, blazed a trail, and made it happen in politics, entertainment, sport, and STEM. Each superstar is played by a mini-superstar in the making…” and these girls are cuties!

Grown ups portrayed:
Amy Schumer: #iLookLikeAComedian
Hillary Clinton: #iLookLikeAPresident
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: #iLookLikeAJustice
Isis Anchalee: #iLookLikeAnEngineer
Beyoncé: #iLookLikeAnEntrepreneur
Nicki Minaj: #iLookLikeASuperstar
Jen Welter: #iLookLikeAnNFLCoach
Viola Davis: #iLookLikeAnEmmyWinner
Misty Copeland: #iLookLikeAPrincipalBallerina
Abby Wambach: #iLookLikeAWorldChampion read more

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A Syrian refugee in the UK shares hope and thanks for the kindness he’s experienced

Jack AR's room in UK
Foto source: Jack AR’s post to Calais – People to People Solidarity – Action from UK Facebook Group
Syrian refugee Jack AR (Ahmad al Rashid) posted these words of thanks, hope and homesickness in the Facebook group Calais – People to People Solidarity – Action from UK. It’s quite a statement:

This is my new home in England and, I have to tell you, it has taken me completely by surprise. I had heard and read so much about how the British people were so unwelcoming to migrants and asylum seekers and want to close the borders and even bomb the boats carrying migrants. But my experience has shown me that the ones who care and want to help far outnumber the ones who don’t. I have met such kindness from so many strangers. read more

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Native Americans give no thanks for Columbus’ legacy of destruction and neither should we

picture from One Cut video
Screen shot from One Word – Episode 25: Christopher Columbus
CUT.com invited Native Americans to free-associate one word with Columbus. They got fabulous responses worked into a short video, which made me feel very thoughtful.

Although American schoolchildren do learn about the destruction Columbus brought to our land and the First Nation people who were already living here, we are also taught to idolize both the destroyer and the destruction Columbus initiated. Which means that from a very young age, our schools are teaching children to idolize cruelty, thievery, genocide and to value the monetization of natural resources. Resources which – when left intact or at least, used sustainably – remain treasures of Mother Earth with the power to nurture and allow us to live surrounded by beauty, in comfort. read more

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In 84 seconds learn why Cable & Telcos are trying to gut Net Neutrality funding and take it away from you

Squeezing internet users
FFTF warns that Big Cable & Telcos want to squeeze more money out of users

Fight for the Future cautions:

Net Neutrality is Under Attack. Don't let Congress break the Internet by dismantling Net Neutrality — share this video to raise the alarm.

Why not also call your elected federal officials and ask them to protect net neutrality on your behalf? Calling is a powerful action to make sure net neutrality doesn’t go away. Call using this convenient tool.

white house net neutrality letter
President Obama endorses net neutrality
The White House defines net neutrality:

More than any other invention of our time, the Internet has unlocked possibilities we could just barely imagine a generation ago. And here’s a big reason we’ve seen such incredible growth and innovation: Most Internet providers have treated Internet traffic equally. That’s a principle known as “net neutrality” — and it says that an entrepreneur’s fledgling company should have the same chance to succeed as established corporations, and that access to a high school student’s blog shouldn’t be unfairly slowed down to make way for advertisers with more money. read more

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Uganda Jews sing Shalom Mirembe with joy, a peace song

Shalom Mirembe songThere are not only Jews in Uganda, but they dance, sing, are farmers and land stewards.

The Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda and Israeli artist Irene Orleansky partnered to create “Shalom, Mirembe!” as part of a music collection from Israelites and Jews of Africa and Asia. For more information and to purchase the CD visit ireneorleansky.com. The participating Jewish communities receive all proceeds from CD sales.

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Obama falls in love with baby pope & his popemobile at White House Halloween

Obamas with baby pope
Source: wh.gov video
President Obama falls for the baby pope at this year’s Halloween White House celebration and names him the top prize winner. First Lady cleary likes Popini too :-). If you’re watching the video, caution: cute alert! Love Dad’s Men in Black outfit too.

This nice little video shows more 2015 White House Halloween fotos and gives the history of the celebration.

Hat tip to Cynthia Flood for the fabulous share.

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Woman keeps her bogged horse from being swallowed up for 3 hours

045135-horse-stuck-in-mud
Nicole Graham desperately tries to pull her horse Astro from the thick mud. Picture: Peter Ristevski/Geelong Advertiser Source: News Limited
For hours that must have seemed like days, Nicole Graham held onto her horse and kept him from being sucked down into a bog until rescuers found a way to get him out. In a miracle rescue, the 1200 pound fella was extracted just before the incoming sea tide could cover him up completely – and he is now OK. Nicole kept Astro calm, and kept his head from sinking into the mud, during their entire 3 hour experience.

What a great story 🙂

Reported in http://www.news.com.au/national/astrooo-fight-against-the-sadness/story read more