Hoof In Mouth Disease Epidemic

The level of stupidity keeps growing.  And sadly, it's reaching an all time high as Hollywood performers attempt to share their not too well thought out unresearched opinions.  

Seriously people, just stick to the script and nobody will get hurt!

Stupid Is As Stupid Does.  

And nobody does stupid quite like a certain "actress" from my home town of Louisville, Kentucky.  In fact, she can't open her mouth without something totally ignorant falling out of it.  Honestly!  That girl has the worst case of hoof in mouth disease  I think I've ever seen!

Her latest utterly stupid proclamation:

 Gluten-Free Diets the 'New, Cool Eating Disorder'

 Really?  Wow!  This coming from a person who once considered becoming a doctor.   Aren't we all glad she chose to be just another no talent brainless Hollywood clone instead!  Seriously dodged a bullet there!

And don't even get me started on the painfully untalented hack who was made star of the Twilight movie series.  Yes, another mindless twit on the loose giving incredibly ridiculous and grossly uninformed opinions about subjects they know little to nothing about.

Terrorists are just misunderstood?    Ooooookay!  Well feel free to go help them become more understood.  And be sure to take little Miss Hoof In Mouth who thinks gluten free diets are the new cool eating disorder with you.

The only reason either of these two morons are back on the news feed is because they needed some face time with their adoring and equally mindless twit fans.  Who by the way, have all the attention span and loyalty of a gnat.

I will hand it to them though.  Their PR is relentless.  However!   I'm on to the horse shit marketing techniques used by these ass hats    

Neither one of these so called "actresses" have any real  acting talent to be remembered for their work.  So the PR folks have to flood the media with their clients' endless and remarkably stupid commentary and/or antics.  

Stupid pranks are a well known PR tactics.  It worked for Miley Cyrus.  But then again, Miley is actually talented.  Yea, she may not be too bright herself, but at least she is talented.  

Oy vey!  Wish I could say the same for those above mentioned dunderheads.

Hopefully, one day soon, the world will grow tired of the eternal stupidity and put an end to it once and for all.  

Yea...I know!  Hope springs eternal!  Unfortunately, stupidity reigns Supreme!!!!

Overcoming Failure

Failure. It can be quite an obstacle.

Do you ever wish you'd done things differently? Or worry about failing again?

I'd like to support you in reframing what failure means to you, with 3 suggestions:

1. Feel the feeling underneath the failure.

Beneath your anger, frustration, or embarrassment about failure is often a lot of sadness. If you believe you failed, you may feel that you didn't get to meet your potential. Sadness is connected to that belief.

You can't fully receive the gifts of the present moment with that sadness underneath it all.

Allow yourself to feel sadness for a path you didn't get to take! Experience it. 

2. Let go of the label.

When something happens contrary to what we expect or desire, we often call it failure and then judge the experience as bad or wrong.

But what would happen if you released that judgment?

See what it feels like to say, "That's what happened and I'm still okay."

3. Open yourself up to possibilities.

Instead of focusing on the path you didn't get to take, envision yourself on a new path—the path of your present life.

Where will it take you? 

Be excited to see where it's going to go now!

What we call failure is just an experience. Let yourself learn from it.

SOURCE:  Carol Tuttle at www.caroltuttle.com

Bullying Prevention and Intervention Tips for Families

Prevention

1. Increase Communication
Initiate discussion about your children’s social and online lives on a regular basis. Ask specific questions that generate meaningful dialogue (e.g., instead of “How was school?,” try “What is lunchtime like at your school—who do you sit with, what do you do and what do you talk about?”). Make sure that your demeanor communicates genuine interest and openness as opposed to the desire to control or invade privacy. 

2. Monitor Behavior
Observe your children in different settings by volunteering at school, participating in extracurricular activities and being watchful during social gatherings. If you notice that your children are overly aggressive, vulnerable to peer pressure or exhibit other behavior that troubles you, talk to them about your concerns and redirect the behavior. Be vigilant about the warning signs associated with bullying behavior (e.g., social withdrawal, fear of attending school, avoidance of or preoccupation with technology) and trust your instinct to intervene if your children don’t seem to be their usual selves. 

3. Facilitate Positive Social Experiences
Help your children to choose friends and hobbies that make them feel good about themselves. If you notice that certain relationships or activities cause unhealthy conflict or bad feelings, talk about ways to improve things move away from the negative situation. Guide your children in finding friends and interests in varied settings so that they do not rely on only one place as their social outlet. Help your children to stay bonded to at least one close friend—feeling socially connected can help to mitigate the effects of bullying.

4. Promote Responsible Online Behavior
Talk with your children about ethical online behavior, including respect for privacy and the impact of denigrating others. Make sure that they understand how to protect their own privacy online (e.g., keep personal information, passwords and PINs confidential) and how to respond when targeted by negative online behavior (see Prevention Tip #6). Help your children to set healthy limits on the amount of time spent online and actively supervise online activities. If you use filtering and monitoring software, be open about it and don’t rely on these tools as a substitute for direct participation in their online lives

5. Talk about Bullying
Make a point of explicitly bringing up bullying. Specifically define bullying, what it looks like and what to do when it occurs. Communicate your values and expectations regarding their social behavior on and offline, and help them to clarify their own values and ways to act on them in the face of peer pressure and aggression. Discuss and rehearse ways to respond to social cruelty, and make it is clear that your children can and should come to you for help when they witness or are involved in bullying situations.

6. Be a Role Model
Think about the messages your children receive when you make judgmental comments, gossip or behave aggressively toward friends, family members, drivers on the road or help staff in stores. Use technology responsibly and avoid forwarding mean or biased jokes and posts. Model what it means to be an ally and to stand up against prejudice and cruelty on and offline.

7. Be Involved at School
Advocate for policies, programs and practices that encourage positive social behavior and be vocal when adults/institutions fall short of their responsibility to protect children and maintain safe environments. Don’t wait until your child is the target to get involved and speak up.  [emphasis added]



Source:  Anti-Defamation League

James Leprino: Stop Sickening Animal Abuse at World’s Largest Pizza Cheese Supplier

Hi Everybody!

I just signed the petition "James Leprino: Stop Sickening Animal Abuse at World’s Largest Pizza Cheese Supplier" on Change.org.

It's a very important issue regarding the cruel treatment of their cows. Will you sign it too? 

You can click HERE or copy and paste the link below

http://www.change.org/p/james-leprino-stop-sickening-animal-abuse-at-world-s-largest-pizza-cheese-supplier?recruiter=46770324&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

Children of the Luminaries Book Two: Training Day is now officially written!

I am so pleased to announced that I have finished the first draft of the next installment of the Children of the Luminaries trilogy...Children of the Luminaries Book II: Training Day.

 (does the happy dance)

Now comes the hard part...Editing! 

The goal is to get Book Two out in physical publication Spring 2015!  

Wish me Luck!!!! 

oy! 

Haven't gotten your copy of the first book?  


Children of the Luminaries ~ Book One: The Coming Storm is available in paperback and on KINDLE on Amazon.com!

Just Click HERE

Teen Forced To Wear Humiliating Name Tag At Work

16 year old Tyler Brandt’s supervisor created and required him to wear a name tag labeled “GAYTARD” while he worked at a Taco John’s restaurant in Yankton, South Dakota. Tyler was intentionally humiliated in front of customers and coworkers to the point that he felt he had no option but to quit his job.

No one should have to face slurs in their workplace – no boss should be allowed to label their employee with insults.

This is why the ACLU is representing Tyler with his charge of discrimination against Taco John’s - but it's time they also apologize to Tyler and publicly speak out against discrimination and bullying in the workplace.

All corporations, including Taco John's, have a responsibility to ensure that their franchises understand that discrimination is unacceptable and illegal.

Will you sign to stand with Tyler and demand an apology from Taco John’s? Let's call on them to take a public stance against discrimination and bullying in the workplace, so no one else will have the horrible, shaming experience that Tyler had.

Click HERE  or just copy and paste link below:

https://www.aclu.org/secure/tyler?emsrc=Nat_Appeal_AutologinEnabled&emissue=nationalsecurity&emtype=petition&ms=eml_140924_lgbtrights&__af=fotCrM9GXXyYwIz2DMwva1sb5VEsxZTHF9NDeshaQqV%2FkuN73VpSUjjEsdyrCY%2BXs790T3p5xNLQ2Ososncf7gKAf3J777sTDlvS%2FUWv2jid52YWa92SABclLyWlAxNK%2B9Y%2FGz46nEObbVPRMeJ5%2BJzSAQ1Csify9SlKC1x%2BLuMEjwJB8mA%2BkkUC9quXO7g1SdEK5Vewx7ONXWth7bzgS%2F7IIew6CH7eYz5d9L6ftFY3Jsj2o3qJottZvyqGBQ%2Bd3sonbkkAfZN4%2Bd2lkWKk9w%3D%3D&__spstate=full

Living The Dream

​

In my humble opinion, I believe everybody should write at least one book and publish it!   No, it may never be a number one best seller.  But at least it was written and it was put out there for all to see and enjoy.  And that's an accomplishment you can live with!

I was talking to a co-worker the other day about Children of the Luminaries.  She mentioned how she always wanted to publish a book herself.  Naturally, I told her to do it!   Sadly, she said she could never do it because no one would ever read it.  I then gave her the advice that was given me many years ago. 

Never write for others.  Always write for yourself.  Write what you would like to read.  Write about the things you enjoy!  And if others read your work and discover they like it and enjoy it, then you have doubled your blessings!
 

Wise words from the one and only, Ray Bradbury!

Of course then she told me how she had been working on one particular novel since she was a teenager.  She griped about how it was just taking too long to write. I laughed and informed  her when I had actually started writing Children of the Luminaries.  She was a little shocked and relieved all at the same time.

You see, the very first time I sat down to draft out Children of the Luminaries was written 25 years ago.  We're talking 1990 here.    On an electric typewriter no less!  The second draft didn't happen until 8 years after that.  I had gotten a used word processor and keyed in the first draft, making changes along the way.   I put it away and didn't pick it back up until late 2003.  In 2011, I shared the story with an online acquaintance who had a publishing business.  Unfortunately, she and I had different ideas on how the story should go, so we parted ways. 

It wasn't until late 2013 that my best friend told me that we are going to publish it ourselves.  And we did.  It took us a year and a half to get everything set up.  But once that proverbial ball got moving...it MOVED!

On July 25, 2014, the first book of the Children of the Luminaries trilogy became a physical manifestation. 

Now my journey isn't unique and it's far from over.  Did you know there are quite a few people out there who got started late in life and succeeded in fulfilling their dreams of being a writer?  Yep!  It's True!  And you can too!

My sharing my personal story is to remind you that your dreams will always be with you.  But only YOU can live them out.  Only YOU can fulfill them.  Don't let the passages of time be a deterrent. Just DO IT!  I mean...what do you have to lose?

​ Don't wait until you have the time...MAKE the time!  Write about the things you know, the things you enjoy, the things that excite you.  Just DO IT!

One of my favorite yearly exercises is writing a novel in thirty days.  It's actually a national contest held yearly online.  Lots of fun!  And oh quite so liberating!

But you don't have to join any contest to put forth the effort of letting your fingers fly on the keyboard.  Just take an hour a day every single day for the next 30 days and write your story.  Don't look at what you wrote.  Don't try to correct yourself.  Just DO IT! 

I will leave you with this last piece of sage advice that was given to me years ago by my mentor Joseph "CASAC" Casis.

"For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these:  "It might have been."  John Greenleaf Wittier