Last Friday afternoon I was walking home from Chestnut Street.  At the cross walk there was myself and an elderly lady, the lady had a rolling basket in which she was collecting recyclables.  As we crossed the street she was walking in front of me and as we were crossing there was a fellow in a big black truck who had stopped so we could cross.

Suddenly, the fellow in the truck leaned out of the truck and yelled..”So you came to America to do that &^%$@ work?”  I don’t think he expected an answer and the lady in front of me didn’t even turn to acknowledge him.  I however, did turn to look at him.  I was exactly in front of the truck when the fellow yelled at me.  “What are you lookin’ at you B*^$#?” 

That’s when the lady turned and looked at me, she looked at me as if to say, “I’m sorry” , I looked at her and made the universal sign of “This guy is crazy!” I said out loud, “Don’t worry, he’s just having a bad day.”  We smiled at each other and went about our  ways.

Let it go

That could have, and should have, been the end of it but for the next 20 minutes  I was still re-living that yelling moment!  Can you believe it, I spent so much time thinking of clever comments or venom filled retorts which I could have spewed at that ugly, tormented, miserable man.

I was looking at what I could have said that would make him even more miserable than he already showed me he was.  Here are some:

He said:  “What are you looking at you B&%$#h?”

Me:  “OMG, I think I just fell in love!”

Me:  “I’m looking at a Pig!”

Me: ” I’m soooo glad I don’t know you!”

Me:   “I’m soo glad I’m not who you are going home to! Have a lovely night.”

Me:  “I’m looking at a P&#2k!”

Me: “It’s hard to tell, there’s no label on it. But it sure is ugly!”

Fuhgeddaboudit

Folks, I’m sorry to say, I spent a good 20 minutes thinking of things that would pierce this man’s, manhood, self-esteem, and really make him feel like the jerk he was!

Then I realized, wait a minute!  Who’s controlling whom?  Why should I let this fellows ignorance, stupidity and all round bad behaviour have any effect on me?

So I stopped and started enjoying my Friday evening.

This letter you are about to read may be one of the best replies ever to a stupid letter. It’s almost too good to be true. Yet it is. It happened in 1974 when  a Cleveland Brown’s fan wrote to the team complaining about other fans throwing paper airplanes during games. The response from the team probably got the writer fired, but boy, what a way to go out.

Absolutely Epic 1974 Letter From Cleveland Browns to a Fan [Cleveland Scene]

Steve Wozniak to the FCC: Keep the Internet Free

Dec 21 2010, 8:30 AM ET 66

To whom it may concern:

I have always loved humor and laughter. As a young engineer I got an impulse to start a Dial-a-Joke in the San Jose/San Francisco area. I was aware of such humor services in other countries, such as Australia. This idea came from my belief in laughter. I could scarcely believe that I was the first person to create such a simple service in my region. Why was I the first? This was 1972 and it was illegal in the U.S. to use your own telephone. It was illegal in the U.S. to use your own answering machine. Hence it also virtually impossible to buy or own such devices. We had a monopoly phone system in our country then.

The major expense for a young engineer is the rent of an apartment. The only answering machine I could legally use, by leasing (not purchasing) it from our phone company, the Codaphone 700, was designed for businesses like theaters. It was out of the price range of creative individuals wanting to try something new like dial-a-joke. This machine leased for more than a typical car payment each month. Despite my great passion and success with Dial-a-Joke, I could not afford it and eventually had to stop after a couple of years. By then, a San Francisco radio station had also started such a service. I believe that my Dial-a-Joke was the most called single line (no extensions) number in the country at that time due to the shortness of my jokes and the high popularity of the service.

Moving ahead, I have owned four homes in my life. None of these had cable TV, even though one was a new development where the law required cable. None of these had DSL, including my current home, which is only .8 miles up a hill from the populous (constant-homes) town I live in. I pay for a T1 line, which costs many times what DSL runs for about 1/10 the bandwidth. That’s as close as I can come to broadband where I live. The local phone providers don’t have any obligation to serve all of their phone customers with DSL. They also have no requirement to service everyone living in the geographic area for which they have a monopoly. This is what has happened without regulatory control, despite every politician and president and CEO and PR person since the beginning of the Internet boon saying how important it was to ensure that everyone be provided broadband access.

As a side note, I once phoned the cable company in the town I lived in. I could look from my bedroom window at homes ¾ of a mile away which had cable. I told the cable company that I would be willing to pay the cost of laying cable to my home. The cable company looked into it and got back to me that they could not do this because there were not enough homes on my hill to pay for the monthly rental of running their cable on telephone poles.

In the earliest days of satellite TV to homes, you would buy a receiver and pay a fee to get all the common cable channels. I had a large family (two adults, six kids) and felt like making every room a lot easier to wire for TV. Rather than place a satellite receiver in each room, I’d provide all the common channels on a normal cable, like cable companies do. In my garage, I set up three racks of satellite receivers. I paid for one receiver to access CNN. I paid for another to access TNT. I paid for others to access HBO and other such networks. I had about 30 or 40 channels done this way. I had modulators to put each of these channels onto standard cable TV channels on one cable, which was distributed throughout my home. I could buy any TV I liked and plug it in anywhere in the home and it immediately watch everything without having to install another satellite receiver in that room. I literally had my own cable TV ‘company’ in the garage, which I called Woz TV, except that I even kept signals in stereo, a quality step that virtually every cable company skipped.

Then I got this idea that I could pretty easily run my signal through the wires in conduits up and down our 60-home neighborhood. The neighborhood had been partially wired for cable before the cable company went bankrupt as the neighborhood was being developed. I phoned HBO and asked how much they would charge me just to be a nice guy and share my signal with 60 neighbors. What came back was an answer that I couldn’t do such a personal thing. I had to be a cable company charging my neighbors certain rates and then a percentage of what I was charging, with minimums, had to be paid for HBO. I instantly realized that you couldn’t do something nice in your garage as a normal person and I gave up the idea.

The Internet has become as important as anything man has ever created. But those freedoms are being chipped away.

When young, I remember clearly how my father told me why our country was so great, mainly based on the constitution and Bill of Rights. Over my lifetime, I’ve seen those rights disregarded at every step. Loopholes abound. It’s sad. For example, my (Eisenhower Republican) father explained the sanctity of your home and how it could not easily be entered. It was your own private abode. And you had a right to listen to any radio signals that came because the air was free and if it came into your home you had a right to listen to it. That principle went away with a ban on radios that could tune in cell phone frequencies in the days of analog cell phones. Nobody but myself seemed to treat this as a core principle that was too much to give up.

I was also taught that space, and the moon, were free and open. Nobody owned them. No country owned them. I loved this concept of the purest things in the universe being unowned.

The early Internet was so accidental, it also was free and open in this sense. The Internet has become as important as anything man has ever created. But those freedoms are being chipped away. Please, I beg you, open your senses to the will of the people to keep the Internet as free as possible. Local ISP’s should provide connection to the Internet but then it should be treated as though you own those wires and can choose what to do with them when and how you want to, as long as you don’t destruct them. I don’t want to feel that whichever content supplier had the best government connections or paid the most money determined what I can watch and for how much. This is the monopolistic approach and not representative of a truly free market in the case of today’s Internet.

Imagine that when we started Apple we set things up so that we could charge purchasers of our computers by the number of bits they use. The personal computer revolution would have been delayed a decade or more. If I had to pay for each bit I used on my 6502 microprocessor, I would not have been able to build my own computers anyway. What if we paid for our roads per mile that we drove? It would be fair and understandable to charge more for someone who drives more. But one of the most wonderful things in our current life is getting in the car and driving anywhere we feel like at this moment, and with no accounting for cost. You just get in your car and go. This is one of the most popular themes of our life and even our popular music. It’s a type of freedom from some concerns that makes us happy and not complain. The roads are already paid for. You rarely hear people complain that roads are “free.” The government shines when it comes to having provided us pathways to drive around our country. We don’t think of the roadways as being negative like telecommunication carriers. It’s a rare breath of fresh air.

I frequently speak to different types of audiences all over the country. When I’m asked my feeling on Net Neutrality I tell the open truth. When I was first asked to “sign on” with some good people interested in Net Neutrality my initial thought was that the economic system works better with tiered pricing for various customers. On the other hand, I’m a founder of the EFF and I care a lot about individuals and their own importance. Finally, the thought hit me that every time and in every way that the telecommunications careers have had power or control, we the people wind up getting screwed. Every audience that I speak this statement and phrase to bursts into applause.

That’s how the people think. They don’t want this to encroach on their Internet freedom.

I was brought up being told that one of the main purposes of our government is to help people who need help. When I was very young, this made me prouder than anything else of my government. I felt that way until the year that the San Jose Draft board voted 5-3 to call me not a student because I’d submitted my grades instead of the proper form, and made me 1A for service in Vietnam. As soon as I got a safe draft lottery number, they sent me a letter saying that they would grant me a 2S student deferment, because then they could get a shot at me in a later year. What was this game? Why was the government doing this sort of thing to a citizen? They aren’t always about helping the people.

We have very few government agencies that the populace views as looking out for them, the people. The FCC is one of these agencies that is still wearing a white hat. Not only is current action on Net Neutrality one of the most important times ever for the FCC, it’s probably the most momentous and watched action of any government agency in memorable times in terms of setting our perception of whether the government represents the wealthy powers or the average citizen, of whether the government is good or is bad. This decision is important far beyond the domain of the FCC itself.

Sincerely,

Did you ever hear about a scientific study where you heard the findings and thought “really, they spent time and money trying to find that” – such as the researchers at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque who studied erotic dancers (aka strippers) and found that when they were ovulating or “in heat” as serious scientists call it they made more money than when they were menstruating, so in other words when women are feeling good about themselves they put on a better show than when they feel like crap. I’m serious. This was a real study.  Anyway, there’s obviously a bunch of researchers in England who thought “Damn, we should have spent our money on strip clubs” because the best they could come up with was to go through 1,000 jokes to compile what they thought were the best jokes ever, and then asked 36,000 which they liked best.

Yesterday we gave you the top five. Here’s some more

A young blonde is distraught because she thinks her husband is having an affair, so she goes to a gun shop and buys a handgun. The next day she comes home early and finds her husband in bed with a gorgeous brunette. She pulls out the gun and holds it up to her head. The husband jumps out of bed, begging her not to shoot herself. The blonde looks at him and says “shut up idiot, you’re next.”

A man goes to the gym and asks a personal trainer “Can you teach me to do the splits?” The trainer said “How flexible are you?” the man said “I can’t make Tuesdays.”

Police arrested two kids. One was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one – and let the other one off.

A man goes to see his doctor and says “Doc, I can’t stop singing “The Green Green Grass of Home”. The doctor said “That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome.” The man asked “Is it common.” The doctor said “It’s not unusual.”

I’m on a whiskey diet. I’ve lost three days already.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

My friend called yesterday.  She was completely distraught because she had been diagnosed with psoriasis, it’s a skin disease that takes on many forms from rough itchy elbows to patches of skin that flake on the scalp or worse, the entire body can be affected, include nails.  Let’s just say it’s not “pretty” and there is no known cure right now.  However, it is treatable and it has been known to go into remission for many years and for some people it never returns.

Those are the facts, and she could take all the information in, but that wasn’t what she was upset about, she was upset because the Dr. said, one line that made her feel vulnerable and powerless.  He said:  “Well, you  know you are getting older and your body is just breaking down.”

Really!?  My friend is 29!  29!  As a hypnotherapist, I deal with the “power” of words on the subconscious mind.  Had the Dr. been educated in “healing use of words” instead of just blurting out “Well you are getting older”  whether to a 29 year old or a person of great age without a single thought about the effect he unleashed on the patient’s mind, he may have begun the healing right then and there by using healing words. But no.  He didn’t and she didn’t feel any better either.  In fact, she felt like she had a life sentence of ugly itch psoriasis which she can’t do anything about because she is getting “old”.

So I wrote her a note, and this is what it said:

Dear Ann,

What!?! What was the  age of the  (so called) Dr. you saw? -  Let me tell you Ann, you have been going through a very stressful time in your life.  First of all, you moved to  D.C., looked for a job…found a place to live…found “new” friends and contacts…enrolled into a graduate program…not to mention going back to school and working.  This is stressful my dear!
When I was still in college…(so I was younger than 29) My dad lost his station, we were in a recession, I needed to help my parents monetarily!  It was a hard times,  I was working and going to school and I had very little social life…(wasn’t dating)  My neck began to peel one day, my scalp and my shoulders looked like a dry river bed.  I was diagnosed with eczema!  I thought by the time I was 25 I would look like the crypt keeper!

Second Opinions Are In Order!

You may be stressed…but  “getting older and these things are to be expected” What a bunch of baloney.   First of all, get another Dr.  this one has the bedside manner of a bed bug. 
Then, I would begin to do breathing exercises…how you ask? Take a yoga class…or rent a DVD…breathe…take some time to quiet your mind…make schedules for your day that include walks, quiet reflection, reading funny stuff.

I think just being 29 is a vulnerable time.  When I was 29, I was at a restaurant for my 29th birthday…and the waiter came over and asked if we wanted him to open the “white” wine…I said, yes open it but we’ll just let it breathe…He said, “Madame, WHITE wine doesn’t breathe”
I burst into tears and that waiter ruined the evening for me…(I hate when the waiters think they are classier than you” – remember Absolutely Fabulous, when Edie says…to a smart mouth sales clerk in a posh shop – “Hey…your just a shop girl…I’m the customer!”
So Ann, my dear…we are all getting older…and you can latch on to that…or you can say…I’m getting better and I don’t care if some fella or gal who went to medical school falls back on “your getting older”  even at my age…I would say…
okay Doc… That’s the easy answer…” the first in your class would have a intelligent diagnosis and analysis about what causes this condition…YOU my dear, apparently were not the first and you certainly have no class you nitwit!”

…and as the sun sets here in California…we understand the lessons to be learned from  this nasty little episode Ann,  DO NOT BE DEFINED BY OTHERS…SOME DOCTORS ARE STUPID AND LAZY….And always remember, you are the consumer…I suggest you “Yelp” this guy…so others will know what kind of Dr. he is!
Sometimes you run into people who are not equipped to do the job they were educated in…Like my grandpa’s silly/stupid Doctor….but that is another story!
….and that’s what I have to say about that.  the end.
Your friend,

Shirl

P.S.  Find a doc you like who works in this field helping people…the body and mind.

Going on holiday is fun. Except for the fact that you know you’ll pay for it when you get back. The first day back at work is spent catching up on the phone calls and emails that piled up while you were gone (although it’s amazing how many issues are resolved without you ever having had to do anything – I am not sure if that’s good or bad!) so by day two back in the office you feel like “Holiday? What holiday?”

And it’s not just the office either. Getting back into your workout routine is equally tough. Even if you exercise regularly taking a few weeks off can mean it takes another couple of weeks just get back into the routine, and to get your body feeling that it can handle it.

Recently we went to New Mexico for a week. We were pretty active while we were there, doing lots of walking, a few hikes, even going on a two hour horse back ride through the countryside. So it’s not as if we were slouching off, lounging around the pool with drinks that had umbrellas in them. Even so, first day back at the gym once we got home was tough. The morning after was even harder. Everything ached!

You would think that after exercising on a regular basis for month after month, year after year, that your body would be conditioned enough to be able to take a few weeks off without going to pot, but apparently not.

I have accepted that fact – albeit reluctantly – and have learned to ease back into the workout routine. First day back I do things at around 75% of my normal activity level – whether it’s on the treadmill or lifting weights. Next day I raise it a bit, the day after a bit more so that by the end of the first week I’m pretty much back to normal.

It’s recognition I suppose that you can’t take the benefits of exercise for granted, even just for a few weeks, that it’s something you need to keep doing for the rest of your life if you want to continue reaping the benefits.

That doesn’t mean I’m not going to go on holiday or that I’m going to bring my workout clothes along with me on vacation – I’m not that big a fanatic and I also think that it’s good to give your body a rest once in a while – what it does mean is that I know coming back I’m going to have to ease back into the routine, so I don’t shock my body.

Now if only I could get my boss to allow me to apply the same approach to easing back into my job!

Too often we take words for granted. We say a word and think we know what it means. But so many words can mean so many different things. The same word can often mean something completely different depending on the context in which it’s used. And when you match those words and their different meanings with images of those meanings, you can end up with something quite beautiful.

See what I mean?

Click here “Words“

The beauty industry sells us self esteem right?  And everyone wants to have good self esteem, right?  Looking good makes us feel good so why not buy a few cosmetics to look our best?  In fact, the skin care market (that’s facial, skin, and hair products) is a 15.1 billion dollar industry.  And now, there is an ever increasing market targeting aging  baby boomers who have the money and desire to look good and youthful.

Youth and Beauty = Self Esteem?

So if you are fresh faced teenage girl,don’t you already possess what everyone wants?  Well, maybe, but advertisers say that perhaps you could could “enhance” your looks with the right cremes or make-up. It was reported in  Cosmetics by Design, that  teens spend an average of $80 on themselves each week. Young women (ages 12-24) out-buy all other age groups when it comes to haircare, skincare, cosmetics, and fragrances (Source: “Junior League” by Kelley Donahue. American Salon, January 2000).

The beauty industry has hoodwinked us into thinking we need to look like the models we see.  Well, my friend Lynn, sent me a startling video put out by the “Dove Self Esteem Fund” , check it out.  It’s really quite amazing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

But Wait!  There’s More!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-kSZsvBY-A

We’re always looking for ways to help you stay healthy and in good shape.  So once a week we bring you an exercise you can do without going to the gym.  Today’s exercise is brought to you by Fina and Nina.  They have been dancing all their lives and believe me, these gals are in shape!  I’ve decided to workout with them…and when Kevin gets home, he can do these moves too!  I can’t wait to see him.  Don’t worry, I’ll record the session and get back to you.  In the meantime enjoy!  Really, try it.  The moves are simple and the gals really do a good job of explaining the technique!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOMtF6irGNg