May 2nd, 2010

Quotes of the week

American Beauty
written by Alan Ball

As Lester recounts his memories, we see the immediate (and subsequent) reactions to his murder (Ricky & Jane (Thora Birch), Ricky's dad (Chris Cooper), Angela (Mena Suvari), and Carolyn. And we see his memories (beautifully photographed) as he speaks about them. The monologue ends with a beautiful aerial shot of the neighborhood)

Lester: (voice over) I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches forever, like an ocean of time....for me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout Camp, watching falling stars...and yellow leaves, from the maple trees that lined our street...Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper...and the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird. And Janie...and Janie. (twice we see his memories of Jane, the second when she was younger, dressed as a princess) And...(with love) Carolyn. (we see a younger happier Carolyn shrieking happily in a carnival ride; we've seen a photo from this long-ago family activity before -- he was looking at one right before his death) I guess I could be really pissed off about what happened to me...but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst...and then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain. And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life...(amused) You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry...(cut to black)
You will someday.

Meditation of the week

Attitudes and Limitation

To a large extent, the way we think determines who we are and what happens to us.

We cannot harbor poisonous thoughts without their effects visibly showing in our lives. If we dwell on our inadequacy and ineffectiveness, for example, circumstances will prove us correct because we will invite self-defeating events to us.

On the other hand, replacing destructive thoughts with hope-filled, optimistic ones brings peaceful and confidence-producing circumstances to us. We will radiate competence and joy.

Today I will make it a habit to continually replace pessimistic thoughts with optimistic ones. I will dwell on what is uplifting so that I may increase my courage and confidence as well as better my circumstances.

Poem of the Week

mnmlist :

less

Stop buying unnecessary things.
Toss half your stuff, learn contentedness.
Reduce half again.
List 4 essential things in your life,
stop doing non-essential things.
Do these essentials first each day, clear distractions
focus on each moment.
Let go of attachment to doing, having more.
Fall in love with less.

Video of the week

Jon Stewart: How Not to Do Interviews

"No, don't leave it there! Why would you leave it there? There is a terrible place to leave it!"
—Jon Stewart, railing against CNN's penchant for giving guests free reign to make wild, contradictory, unchecked assertions — then ending the interchange with an abrupt "We'll have to leave it there"

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
CNN Leaves It There
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

You can’t make up such a thing as that, I dare you to even try

We are living in exponential times. Did you know…?

Did You Know? from Amybeth on Vimeo.

And finally, the culmination of millennia of scientific endeavor

http://godzillahaiku.tumblr.com/