The Places That Scare You
The Places That Scare You
A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times
By Pëma Chöndrön
According to Pema Chondron, we can let the circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder. Here Pema provides the tools to deal with the problems and difficulties that life throws our way. This wisdom is always available to us, she teaches, but we usually block it with habitual patterns rooted in fear. Beyond that fear lies a state of openheartedness and tenderness. This book teaches us how to awaken our basic goodness and connect with others, to accept ourselves and others complete with faults and imperfections, and to stay in the present moment by seeing through the strategies of ego that cause us to resist life as it is.So, this book is not at all what I was expecting. Actually, it is a book about the cultivation of compassion for others and ourselves through the acceptance of our own suffering and pain. I think the title is misguiding in that sense. It is a fairly nice look at Buddhism for the layman, it is a nice introduction to those who are unfamiliar with how Buddhism can be used on a daily basis. But it is definitely not a book about conquering your fears, which is what I was hoping for.
If Your Birthday Is Today...Nov 26
If November 26th is your birthday, your friends will tell you that you are funny and warm-hearted. That you are a creative thinker with wild ideas. But really what you want is the undying attention of those around you and will do what it takes to keep it. You tend to be moody and irrepressible.
You also share a birthday with this buxom lady, La Cicciolina. This lady is famously known for exhibiting her large, left breast on Italian television during a political debate, of which she was a participant. She once offered to have sex with the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in order to restore peace in the Middle East. Ms. Cicciolina, apart from being involved in politics, is also an actress of pornographic "films." She's a real genius and a total dead-ringer for Anna Nicole Smith.
Other geniuses might be likened to are Tina Turner(singer, dancer, Buddhist diva), Robert Goulet(singer, actor, guy with a mustache), Charles Schulz(creator of Snoopy).
Kiss 106.1’s Jingle Bell Bash
Kiss 106.1 is hosting the 2008 Jingle Bell Bash, as they do annually. But this year, they’re featuring Fall Out Boy! So we know it will be good. Other performances by Boys Like Girls and The Academy Is will be sure to rock the house.
The concert will take place on December 4th at the Historic Paramount Theater, starting at 7:30. According to Kiss’s website, the tickets are sold out, however, you can still buy them online at ticketmaster.com. You can also win tickets all day on Wednesdays by listening to Kiss 106.1. If you’re caller 106 when you hear any Fall Out Boy song, you can score free tickets!
Last year’s Jingle Bell Bash was a huge success, with performances from The Jonas Brothers, Timbaland, Blake Lewis, Sean Kingston, Colbie Caillat, and Ehpikh. So we know this year will be even better! There may be less bands than last year, but at least each band plays more songs!
“Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” a Hit!
The premise of Tim Gunn’s latest television show is that he transforms fashion-challenged women to become hip and stylish, looking their best in a variety of situations. He not only improves her wardrobe, but also sends her to make up artists, hairdressers, and even a “life stylist.” Improving on TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” Mr. Gunn’s class, sense of humor, and adages make this show fun to watch and informational for viewers looking for their own sense of style. Fans can also visit his blog on BravoTv.com to find more fashion advice.
However, it seems that Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style is simply an extension of his role on Project Runway – the quirky stylistic critic with endless platitudes and a pretentious vocabulary. But everyone wants to watch others receive fashion criticism while simultaneously learning how they can improve themselves, and so the show has gained immense popularity. Not to mention, Mr. Gunn’s idiosyncrasies are endearing, and contribute to his overall appeal and sweet nature.
Yet, one must wonder – how long can the show go on? How many women can Mr. Gunn transform before people realize that they’re watching the same episodes of women getting makeovers again and again? But shows that makeover someone’s look, house, or even life are hugely popular. This perhaps speaks to the audience’s desire to rebuild aspects of their own lives, but can’t do so for one reason or another, and instead settle to live through others’ lives vicariously. And so shows like Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style continue to thrive.
Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style airs on Bravo every Thursday at 10/0c.
Not All Is Peaceful in Sochi
According to an article from the BBC, the 2014 Olympics in Sochi are creating conflicts in all sectors of the population. From the land owners that are being displaced by contruction of new resorts, to the environmentalists who want to protect the pristine mountainside. There are those who view the expansion of the city as a bad move which will have a negative impact on the residents as well as the land for years to come.
According to a resident of Sochi, who recently lost his home, which has been in his family for four generations, says he finds it hard to imagine Sochi bieng turned into the Russian Riviera. There are many concerns for the residents.
Land had shot up in price around here, he said, after the Olympic bid. But the levels of compensation being proposed by officials do not reflect this. The villagers, he complained, were being robbed. Some say they will refuse to leave; there have already been violent stand-offs with bailiffs.Environmental groups fear that government officials, in their drive to promote Sochi as a jewel of Russia, will compromise the environment.
Dmitry Kaptsov, from local environmental group Ecological Watch, said the promised economic benefits were "fantasy". His organisation has won a number of court cases against developers, and has attracted much international attention and support. Mr Kaptsov insisted that Sochi had the resources to develop economically without the Winter Olympics. Their cost, he said, would be environmental and social damage.Rumors of government corruption and incompetence also abound.
Whatever the real level of corruption, politics in Sochi is far from calm. The local mayor has recently been suddenly dismissed, part of what residents said was a battle for influence and lucrative posts. Sochi, and the wider Krasnodar Region, have promoted themselves as a modern-day Russian success story. And in many respects, they are. The region has high rates of investment, new roads and industries, flourishing agriculture. It is open, hospitable, and incomparable to the troubled republics (Ingushetia, Dagestan and Chechnya) lying just a few hundred kilometres to the east.Whatever the situation in Sochi, plans to expand the city for the 2014 Olympics will move forward. It's still five years away, and a lot can happen, maybe some of these issues can be reconciled.
prey
my cat stays indoors and does not hunt outside but instead of bringing us mice and stuff she brings us socks and things. Is this normal because she does not go outside?
Anyone out there?
I would be interested in chatting with anyone out there who has info on online sources for legal ways of obtaining hydrocodone (other than prescriptionconsultation.com). Please reply on the message board or e-mail me.
Goodbye George W Bush
Ever feel the need to get in the last word? A new site is providing you with an opportunity to leave an open letter to George W. Bush or to simply read what others have to say as the nation prepares to say adios to the Bush administration. Check out goodbye.us today!
burning out
how do you burn out in a front wheel drive car and a rear wheel drive car? is it possible in an autamatic car?
is stray cat sick
I just moved in to a new place a month ago and this stray cat just kept coming around. It's the smallest of the 4 strays in the neighborhood as well as the most scrawniest.
I've been feeding it some cat food from the store and it looks better than it did before. But when it meows, it sounds like he has phlegm in his throat. He doesn't even jump like a normal healthy cat.
Should I just take him to the pound? I don't have money for the vet. What could be his (or her) problem?