outrageous news

Once in a while, news make me angry. This week, I got angry twice. First:

Dunkin’ Donuts has pulled an online advertisement featuring Rachael Ray after complaints that a fringed black-and-white scarf that the celebrity chef wore in the ad offers symbolic support for Muslim extremism and terrorism.

Just to protest, I might buy a kaffiyeh. But as they now mostly made in China, what remains of that symbol anyway ? Which make the whole Dunkin’ story even more moronic… Too bad there is no Nobel prize for stupidiy, because Michelle Malkin would be a wonderful contender.

And also that story:
High levels of bisphenol A prompted many consumers to toss water and baby bottles containing the controversial material. Now, tests conducted for The Globe and Mail and CTV have found high levels of the estrogen-mimicking chemical in canned food sold in Canada.

Is there anything I can do anymore and not get cancer???

funny blog

changing the system

a complaint free world

 

Scientists believe it takes 21 days to form a new habit and complaining is habitual for most of us. As Twain said, we must coax our old behavior down the stairs. The bracelet(s) you receive are a powerful tool(s) to remind you of how well you are creating your life with positive intention. Here are the suggested rules:

1. Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist

2. When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.

3. If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!

4. Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving, more positive and more abundant.

(via peaceachday)

Hum. My second reaction was to wonder if inner complaint counts, right after thinking about a co-worker who would get two tendonitis with that bracelet.

That’s a tough one.

But while thinking about it I wondered: does complaining about poverty, violence or war is a good thing ? Does criticizing my country for not doing enough about them is a good thing ? I think so.

Gossipers however should go straight to hell.

In the other hand, complaining about an issue doesn’t mean anything if I don’t do anything about it.

I assume we can say there is complaining in a positive spirit and complaining in a negative spirit. And that the target here is the second, not the first one. To stop living your life like a tragedy, like a victim. Yeah, amen to that.

But… Does inner negativity counts ? If someone treats me like garbage and yell in my head, I guess it counts. What if I don’t even just put it in words, if it’s just a feeling ?

Strange how it’s looks to me like Buddhism. Permanent compassion to free self from the suffering of the ego.

Is every hate unfair ? Every anger unfair ?

My first answer would be no. I’ll keep thinking about this.

Maybe I’m just pushing the thing too far (as usual). Maybe it’s just about not making big things of small things. And not about not making small things of big things.

Hum. I think I get it.

I ordered one bracelet. And I every time I’ll dramatize I’ll put a quarter in a complaint jar for charity. Hoping it will help some real tragedy.

resentment

Advices about resentment from the blog The Naked Soul.

1. Recall for a moment those people in your life whom you have decided to resent, write their names down on a piece of paper.

2. Recall the reasons that you resent these people, write these reason down, next to their names.

3. Think about the impact that your resentment is having on these people.

4. Think about the negative impact that these emotions of resentment are having on you.

5. Acknowledge to yourself that your feelings of resentment are not serving a useful, positive purpose for you or the universe in which you live.

6. Make a decision to let go of your resentment towards these people

7. Now, crumble up this piece of paper and throw it away! (symbolic of letting go of your resentment towards others).

Can’t.

I can forget but I really cannot forgive…

big laugh of the day

Hobo: Excuse me, can you spare me some change?
Woman, pretending in bad Spanish: No hable engles.
Hobo: Shit! I gotta be bilingual to beg?!

From Overheard in NY 

what do I swear by ?

 From Sulz’s post.

1. TV

24, House, The Office, Minuit le soir, Grey’s Anatomy, news and other stuff.

2. Thinking about things I could write

I fortunately am in a good cycle of creativity with way less wasteful thinking than over the last months and years.

3. Write to my European friend

Hello, European friend.

4. Comics

For the humor, I guess.

5. Free coffee at work

I can’t get as much excited about the free napkins.

6. Blog

I guess I’m a blogaholic.

7. My new mp3 player

Strangely, had about the same timing that the good cycle mentioned at number two.

8. *sigh*

Also has to do with two and seven.

energy saving

I found a marvelous blog about energy saving. Many topics with strong facts. Including about monitors. The brighter they get, the more energy it takes. One damn interesting advice:

Right click on your desktop or background, go to properties>appearance tab>advanced. Now select “window” in the list and select a light gray color instead of white.

Maybe I’ll get something nicer than grey…

And also because of all this, I decided to sacrifice my design sense and my mostly-white template to pick this mostly black template I like a little less. So, as you’ll come here, you’ll waste less energy. Not coming on this blog and talking a walk to the park would be even better for the environment.

spreading good

I totally feel like dropping tons of pennies everywhere…

Hey, the new PostSecret book is available !

postsecret

 

 

I’m done with Postsecret. Really, this is a great, great project. I like this concept of sharing personal secrets this way. And the visual aspect brings another dimension.

I can’t think of any weakness for this book. And I don’t have any idea how long this project can go on before it becomes redundant.

her blogging excellency

 

Michaëlle Jean, the general-governor of Canada, created her blog today. Very interesting move for someone of her position… Her next move should be to fire her hair stylist…

venn diagram humor

plug a blog

What’s the blog anyone should discover ?

an allegory

I really like Waiter Rant. Always great stories, well written. His last post is about an overcooked entrée. Funny, it could sound like an allegory about Irak.

narcissus

I like Scott Adams. He’s bloody honest. There are some many people who have strong restrictions to what they really are. Even people you know for decades.

For me, being transparent is the highest sign of courage. Sometimes the person is just a big mouth, which can or can’t be a proof or transparency.

Here’s a big of Adams’s blog.

When I wrote my first book, The Dilbert Principle, I inadvertently stumbled on the most powerful, sure-fire book-selling concept ever: Say what other people are already thinking, but say it better than they are thinking it. In my case, I told people that their managers were as useful as the undigested bits of peanuts in a squirrel’s turd. (See, you just laughed.) Bingo – best seller.

All non-fiction best-selling opinion books are nothing more than your own opinions fed back to you with seasoning.

He made a fortune out of it. Well, at least a decent living.

That’s why I won’t ever write a non-fiction book. I don’t want to waste my time telling people what they already know or trying to tell what they don’t want to know.

It’s going back to courage. Most people don’t like contradiction. Car users are pissed about global warming. When a hurricane takes out their house, then they may consider trading their SUV for a hybrid. How many Americans felt responsible for the 9/11 attacks ? None at the White House, for sure…

You can take Adams’s view about books, it suits also perfectly about love. People love mirrors. People love themselves. I love you often means I love myself.

Besides, a mirror is the opposite of transparent.