The Pursuit of Happi "anna" ness

The recent death of Anna Nicole and the arrest of the astronaut who attempted to kill the other girlfriend of a fellow astronaut are good examples of the fact that love, money, fame, and even intelligence don’t equal happiness. These 2 people, in their own individual ways, both lived and represented the American dream. Anna Nicole came from nothing and had little to no talent. She had drive, ambition, and beauty and tried to make the most of the few gifts given to her. She achieved fame, notoriety, and money. Once she did, she spent lots of years and lots of drugs trying to cope with it.

There are a lot of people who would say that Anna is a bad example and that someone more intelligent with a more normal family life could cope better. Well, I wonder how they respond to the astronaut who tried to kill her lover’s girlfriend. Here was a well educated, attractive, intelligent, married mission specialist who drove 900 miles in a diaper to shoot the chick she thought was taking away her lover. This person really had it all – great job, good health, and great education. On the outside, it would appear to others that she also had love . . . with her husband. But that clearly was not the case.

It's real simple. At the end of the day, the key to happiness is to love yourself, love others, and be loved for exactly who you are – no more or less. Money, fame, and beauty are all temporary things that can be lost as fast as or faster than when you got them.

Brilliance or B.S. - You make the call.

"Oprah" People's Money

I’m getting tired of hearing all of the people complaining that Oprah built a school in South Africa instead of in the United States. To me, everybody should be able to decide what they want to do with their own money. It’s real simple. The first person in your pocket every week is Uncle Sam. After he’s finished picking your pocket, the little you do get to take home should be yours to decide how to use. If you have enough money to spend it on something humanitarian . . . that’s great! If you spend it here in the States or somewhere else it shouldn’t matter. Look at Tiger Woods. He built a school in Florida. Oprah built a school in South Africa. Both are good. Big deal that one is in the U.S. and one is in Florida. Both are going to going to give some really deserving kids a great education.

All of the people criticizing Oprah remind me of the kids on the playground. Everyone will be out on the playground in the dead heat of summer. One bright kid will get the original idea to go home get some ice cream and bring it back to the playground to enjoy it there. Now, all of the other kids want to know why that kid has ice cream and they don’t. Where did the ice cream come from? Where can they get some? If they can’t get some, why can’t the kid who has some ice cream share it. It’s real simple. The first kid had the initiative to get the ice cream. None of the others had the idea or took the initiative. So, it’s too bad for them. The kid who has the vision, drive, and effort to think of, search for, and obtain the ice cream should be able to eat the ice cream . . . period . . . end of story. Oprah is the kid with the ice cream. All of her critics are people who don’t have any ice cream, didn’t have the idea or initiative to think of how to get the ice cream . . . but want to eat the ice cream anyway. When they earn 40 million dollars they can decide where and how they want to spend it. In the meantime, Oprah should spend her 40 million the way she wants.

Brilliance or Bullshit . . . you decide

Parenting + Punishment = Opportunity

I was reading an advice column the other day where a woman asked what she should do with her 8 yr old son. It seems every time “Jr” visits his friend down the street he comes home with a bad attitude and is rude to everyone in the family and mom does not know what to do about it. The biggest problem here is the parents do not know what to do. Apparently, their parents never did anything when they were young to correct them when they were acting like little heathens. Now 20 years later, when these kids grow up and have children of their own they have no idea what to do with their kids.

The columnist gave a decent answer to the problem. But it also seemed pretty obvious. Mom and Dad should not let “Jr” play with this kid anymore and Mom and Dad should adjust his attitude. There should be no TV, no video games, and nothing fun for at least a week. The kid should wash dishes every night. He should take out the garbage every time it needs to be done for that week. He should help clean the house. Now, some people say that after 2-3 days an 8 yr old does not remember what he is being punished for so that is all the time the punishment should last. WRONG!!!! Once a child forgets what he/she is being punished for, that is when the real lessons are learned. He learns that the clean plates he eats from every day do not magically clean themselves. He learns that the candy wrapper does not vanish into thin air. He will discover WHY Mom and Dad NEED help to keep the house clean. It gives him the OPPORTUNITY to learn pride in a job well done . . . pride in being part of the family. He learns that he is not someone for Mom and Dad to wait on and take care of . . . but an active member in the success of the family. All these things teach him respect for his family and respect for himself. When kids forget these things, like all children do, the parents must give their child the OPPORTUNITY to learn these lessons again and again.

Brilliance or Bullshit . . . you make the call.

Brilliance Or Bullshit -The Battle of "The Donald" vs. "Rosie"

I was told once that you can dazzle them with brilliance or baffle them with b.s.

Me, I spout almost entirely b.s. But, every once in a while, I saysomething brilliant. B.S or Brilliant . . . you make the call.Let's start with something simple -like the feud between Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump. Donald wants to give a 21 yr old a second chance. Rosie disagrees in her comical way. My first thought is, "I am with The Donald. Here's a young girl. . . under lots of pressure being Miss America. . . does some stupid things . . . only 21 years old . . .Rosie is an idiot." All Trump had to say is "we have a young woman who possibly has a chemical addiction or stress related issues and we are choosing to help her." - end of statement . . . end of story. Let Rosie hang on that. But, Donald goes nuts and starts throwing insults around like a jr high school kid. This is a man who has made millions talking to and dealing with people at the highest levels; and he can not even deal with some criticism from Rosie O'Donnell??? What a pinhead!

In today's world, there are young women who are looked upon as role models, and have the same type of pressures upon them that every other young girl has.
And when they falter, like humans do, what should the message be to those who look up to these people??

Get a D.U.I. on the way to get a cheeseburger at Fat Boys?

Forget your underwear and show the world your "goodies" as you get out of your car?? (which has been done by more than one so called superstar)

Or, is it better to seek help and guidance from professionals andloved ones who are willing to help you get your life back under control?

Think of all of the good "The Donald" could have done with this and the best he could do is call Rosie a "fat slob."

Idiot vs idiot . . . no one wins.