Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

8 Funny Posts 4 A Grin From Dennys Blogs - 30 June 2010

*** When times are tough what do you do? Laughter is the best stress reliever! Here are 8 posts from this week's posts at Denny's blogs for you to enjoy.



Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr


From Denny: Between Colbert and Stewart, well, let's just say they have BP's shenanigans covered. Nothing gets past them!

In my ongoing effort to provide stress relief when the national conversation is so depressing - because of the BP Gulf Coast oil spill, a fragile economy and politicians who continually refuse to do right by the American people - we all need to keep laughing our way through these times until they get better. Trust that times will get better and they will. Until then, while we are in transition, we must develop coping skills for managing daily stress like making sure we are laughing often.

This is one of those times when it is true that "the pen is mightier than the sword" for the right kind of writing can bring relief to thousands in one moment over the internet. Pretty cool when you think about it. How many people can accomplish so much out of thin air? :)


Funny Smile Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day - 30 June 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies: BP Oil Spill, McChrystal Firing - 28 June 2010

Funny Video: Colbert Says McChrystal Had To Have Been High

Funny Video: Stewart Nails Republicans As Flip-Floppers On BP Escrow Fund

Funny Video: Colbert Lampoons Barton's BP Apology

Funny Video: Stewart Lampoons McChrystal's Balls For An Honorable Discharge

5 Funny Shorts: What Kids Think About Love and Life

Funny Video: Surfing Group Known as The Radical Rodents


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Monday, June 28, 2010

Why Smiling is Good For Your Spiritual Health: 7 Quotes About Smiling

*** 7 delightful smile quotes to give you a boost today!




From Denny: Smiling. It comes naturally. You would think no one had to remind us to smile, now would you? Yet the pressures of Life can crowd in our good attitude, squeezing it so small sometimes. How to counteract that problem? Just smile. It's that simple.

When I was a teenager my father was stationed in Taiwan and we lived with him. While I went to an American boarding school I had the chance to meet an unusual man: a very old Taoist master. He was one of those rare recluses that usually lived high up in the mountains of the country and never came down to the cities. Most of his countrymen heard of him as a powerful legend and had never set eyes on him.

He wasn't a hermit; he was a Taoist spiritual master. And he said he came down from the mountain to teach me. I was honored yet still a bit young to fully understand just how pivotal that moment was in my life but I fully appreciated it and thanked him. His gender bigoted apprentices were less than enthused. He pressed on. And one of those simple concepts he taught me was about The Inner Smile.

One of things I enjoyed about learning from the Chinese and Old Master (I couldn't pronounce his name then) was how their minds moved. They were fellow conceptual thinkers and it was easy for me to follow their line of thought. They fully embraced ultimate simplicity because they knew the power in it. So when I tell you that there is power in the simple exercise of The Inner Smile it is true. Basically, what you are doing is reaffirming Life, validating yourself as worthy to live and balancing your spiritual energy by focusing it upon your heart and inner health. That's it.

All you do is close your eyes and visualize looking inward at yourself. You literally smile at every part of yourself you "see" in your visualization. Do that for 15 minutes a day and you will not suffer from depression, anger or worry when stressful times come. Keeping your spiritual energy balanced helps you when Life challenges approach and you take a journey in a Life test to learn more about yourself and the role of living the life of a spiritual being in the Universe.


Quotes

* It takes a lot of work from the face to let out a smile, but just think what good smiling can bring to the most important muscle of the body... the heart. - Anonymous

* A smile is the universal welcome. - Max Eastman

* A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. - William Arthur Ward

* Most smiles are started by another smile. - Anonymous

* A smile is something you can't give away; it always comes back to you. - Anonymous

* Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. - Mother Teresa

* A friendly look, a kindly smile, one good act, and life's worthwhile. - Anonymous



*** Photo by Tansan @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous
Obnoxious And Odd

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Posts Roundup of Dennys 14 Blogs - 27 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr





The Social Poets:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 26 June 2010

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Pentagon Junkyard Dogs Bow to Obama Pressure

Funny Lawyer Quotes and Jokes - Cheeky Quote Day 23 June 2010

Gen. McChrystal Out For Crudely Dissing The President

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 21 June 2010

Funny Video: Colberts The Word, Stay the Course

Funny Video: Colberts Simplified Version of Obama's BP Oil Spill Speech

Funny Video: Colbert Examines America's Strained Relationship With England

Funny Video: Stewarts Take On America's Oil Dependence

Funny Video: Stewart Calls Joe Barton A 'Disdainful A--hole'

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 20 June 2010




Dennys Global Politics:


American and World Politics Cartoons - 26 June 2010

Unemployed Americans Screwed by the Republicans Again - News Headlines 24 June 2010

McChrystal as Dems Political Disaster - News Headlines - 22 June 2010





The Healing Waters:


Living Art Exhibit: Public Play at NY Times Square Pianos

Exploding Number of Young Widows in the World

Good News: Kids Sell Lemon Aid 4 Pelicans Hurt in the Gulf





Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


An Audience of One

10 Funny Posts For a Laugh - 23 June 2010

Life is About Everything

Stepping Through Life

Hope Transforms

Jazz Music




The Soul Calendar:


Big Oil Nixs Competing Aviation BioFuel: NASAs Project OMEGA




Romancing The Chocolate:


Cake Tuesday: Coffee Toffee Fudge Cake, Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins




Unusual 2 Tasty:


Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table




Comfort Food From Louisiana:


Cake Tuesday: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Funny Legal News Story: The Case of a Contraceptives Misstaken Use

Funny Cartoon: What to Wear For Employee Review




Dennys Funny Quotes:


Funny General McChrystal Cartoons - 26 June 2010

10 Funny Signs and 10 Funny Short Jokes




Visual Insights:


Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Posts For This Weeks Cartoons, Funny World Soccer Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** Check out the fun world soccer cartoons and click on more links to funny cartoon posts for this week!





From Denny: Come check out the best of this week's political cartoons, lampooning politicians, Life and sports. Instead of paging through 50 websites pages to look at one cartoon at a time, I've embedded a dozen or more per post to enjoy easily. Can you tell I find it annoying to load page after page just to see all the latest cartoons? :)

These were only a few world soccer cup cartoons available for embedding. To see more just click on the link under the cartoons to take you to the cartoonists' sites. It seems like every night on the TV news we would hear those vuvuzela horns making their joyful noise while they blew out everyone's eardrums. Cartoonists had a lot of fun with that cultural icon.

Congrats go the USA soccer team as they made us proud. It was an amazing run with upset after upset. We got some bad referee calls when it was obvious the gambling syndicate phoned in how they wanted the game to be called. America's team still went forward to win after win. This week it was Ghana's turn to win against America and knock us out of the race for the world cup.

America's team went into this competition with little hope and fewer expectations. As far as Americans are concerned our team was a Cinderella team. They succeeded in winning our hearts and ignited a huge interest in this country for the game of soccer. From my corner of the world, I'd say your game was well played, guys!


*** See Also more cartoons of the day: Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** See Also more cartoons of the day: Funny General McChrystal Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** See Also more cartoons of the day: American and World Politics Cartoons - 26 June 2010



























*** Photo by Tansan @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

10 Funny Posts For a Laugh - 23 June 2010

*** Links to funny posts from several of Dennys blogs this week!





From Denny: I just love the enthusiasm of this funny dog running full tilt, tongue flailing out and slapping his face. He is undeterred and happy anyway. If only we humans could live in the moment like this dog. Well, not to worry, I've found some funny things on the web this week and posted them: jokes, funny quotes, funny photos and funny videos. Knock yourselves out. And, hey, make sure to send me photos of you laughing - and having a good time falling off your chair. :)


Funny Lawyer Quotes and Jokes - Cheeky Quote Day 23 June 2010

Funny Legal News Story: The Case of a Contraceptives Misstaken Use

10 Funny Signs and 10 Funny Short Jokes

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 21 June 2010

Funny Video: Colberts The Word, Stay the Course

Funny Video: Colberts Simplified Version of Obama's BP Oil Spill Speech

Funny Video: Colbert Examines America's Strained Relationship With England

Funny Video: Stewarts Take On America's Oil Dependence

Funny Cartoon: What to Wear For Employee Review

Funny Video: Stewart Calls Joe Barton A 'Disdainful A--hole'



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 20 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr




The Social Poets:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 19 June 2010

Stepping Through Life poem - Libations Friday 18 June 2010

BP Gets Their Moneys Worth From Apologetic GOP Texan Barton

Funny Quotes From Big Oil and BP Congressional Hearings - Cheeky Quote Day 16 June 2010

Foreclosure Violated Military Act: Yet Another Reason Not to Live in Texas

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 14 June 2010

Funny Video: Obama Embarks on AssQuest 2010

Funny Colbert Video: BP CEO Tony Hayward Is an Evil Box of Priggish Entitled Baking Soda

Funny Colbert Video: BP Perplexed Stock Value Sinks

Funny Video: Colbert Doles Out Advice For Helen Thomas






Dennys Global Politics:


BP Problems: Political Cartoons 19 June 2010

Kevin Costner Blasts Big Oil, GOP Apologizes to BP - News Headlines 17 June 2010

Obamas Oval Office Speech, CEO Weigh in on Obama, Reality of BPs $20 Billion Escrow - News Headlines 16 June 2010

BP On Hook for $75 Billion in Claims, 1-Man Mission American Ninja Faulkner Hunts bin Laden, News Headlines 15 June 2010

BP Nightmare Well, Congress Ready to Nail BP, Kennedy FBI Docs, Obama Gets Oil Spill Help - News Headlines 14 June 2010






Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Does Tenacity Figure in Your Life?

Destress: 3 Great Encouragement Quotes

Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?

Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times






Romancing The Chocolate:


5 Tasty Sweet as Candy Chess Pie Recipes

8 Funny Posts to Enjoy

Muffin Monday: 3 Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipes



Comfort Food From Louisiana:


7 Simple Ingredients Brisket and Southern Corn Pudding

Muffin Monday: Mushroom Dill Muffins From Louisiana Mushroom Farm




Unusual 2 Tasty:


Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex





Dennys Funny Quotes:


Oops and Hunh?! Cartoons 19 June 2010

Funny Family Quotes

Joke: When A Bunch of Nationalities Are Stranded on an Island





Visual Insights:

BP Oil Slicked Animals: Outrage Cartoons - 19 June 2010





Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


Hope Transforms

Jazz Music




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Friday, June 18, 2010

8 Funny Posts to Enjoy

*** Your medicine today is to laugh!




From Denny: The world is full of funny, and, in these trying political and economic times, we all need to laugh as much as possible! These are some of the posts I've put up this week on The Social Poets and Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd blogs.


Funny Quotes From Big Oil and BP Congressional Hearings - Cheeky Quote Day 16 June 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 14 June 2010

Funny Video: Obama Embarks on AssQuest 2010

Funny Colbert Video: BP CEO Tony Hayward Is an Evil Box of Priggish Entitled Baking Soda




Funny Colbert Video: BP Perplexed Stock Value Sinks

Funny Video: Colbert Doles Out Advice For Helen Thomas

Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

How Does Tenacity Figure in Your Life?

*** Consider tenacity to help propel you through tough times.





From Denny: It can be easy to get discouraged in the face of severe adversity. Right now on the Gulf Coast we are facing what may turn out to be generations of adversity. The people here are a hardy bunch and will persevere. The one thing they share is a strong work ethic and a spiritual tenacity to push through difficult times.

This photo of the small child trying to climb that fence at the ocean reminds us of when we were small children. The memories of being so small in an adult world and the obstacles we had to overcome like climbing, sliding, crawling, bumping down stairs too high to conquer any other way. Now that was tenacity in motion every day until we grew stronger and larger, moving on to tougher life obstacles.

Tenacity is often overlooked by philosophers while they are constructing an eloquent argument or elegant vision. Tenacity is that strong drive that often can take our dreams and hopes and propel them into the future vision we have for our lives.

The following quote is from a former president certainly not well liked by history. It was this Republican former governor of Massachusetts who promoted the idea of small government after the scandals of his predecessor President Harding. Harding died suddenly and propelled VP Coolidge into the presidency in 1923. He won the presidency on his own in 1924.

He didn't believe government should invest in large government programs or regulate and have a hand in controlling the economy. Read that as an unrestrained and unregulated free market of greed and corruption. This attitude may have contributed to the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression. The man was a lawyer, not an economist.

He was known as "Silent Cal" since he was a man of few words and uncomfortable in Washington society. It was Alice Roosevelt Longworth who was quoted as saying, "He looks as if he'd been weaned on a pickle."

Coolridge was a quiet guy playing opposite his vivacious wife Grace. He always considered that being president was important and his words brought great weight. "The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately."

People wrote him off as one stiff guy so he decided to cultivate it. Hey, when you know you can't be a superstar then work with what you think you have. "I think the American people want a solemn ass as a President," he once told Ethel Barrymore, "and I think I will go along with them." In spite of his quiet status, as president he held a stunning record number of press conferences: 520.

One funny story about Coolidge in one of his uncomfortable social situations where he was often the butt of jokes: He was seated next to Dorothy Parker who leaned over to him and said, "Mr. Coolidge, I've made a bet against a fellow who said it was impossible to get more than two words out of you." His famous reply? "You lose."

It seems that those who gravitate to the Republican agenda often do not possess the best people skills - and weak social skills as they are usually uncompromising. Many do not subscribe to education to improve their attitude toward others. Many are very rigid emotionally and mentally, even fearful of change and lacking a good sense of humor.

The one thing these people rely upon, often too much and out of balance, is tenacity. Tenacity is great when tempered with sensitivity, education and a willingness to be open to others. Tenacity is a great team mate, and, if used well in combination with other attributes can help propel us through difficult situations. Coolidge used his tenacity to survive uncomfortable social situations as he was an introvert by nature.

One good thing about his presidency is that in the 1920's he actually promoted civil rights for African-Americans and Catholics. This was especially important as the Ku Klux Klan had a large following nationally at this time with over four million members. Under his administration, he did not appoint any known KKK members and the Klan lost influence rapidly. It was amazing the man was not assassinated by the millions of racists in the country at the time who howled at his promotion of non-Protestants and other races. Even today, America is over 50 percent Protestant to 25 percent Catholic.

Coolidge was controversial when he granted full American citizenship to Native Americans in 1924. He allowed them to retain tribal lands and full cultural rights. Not exactly the Republican Party of today that is homophobic and excessively racist and gender biased about equal work should get equal pay.

You can analyze presidents and presidencies for years, finding the good, the bad and the ugly. This man had his good moments and his bad just like everyone else. Perhaps he did not fully realize the impact decades later his economic policies would have on generations of Americans.

What we can learn from him is his focus upon tenacity to help win the day, acting as a mighty force to solve problems. The spirit of tenacity has a way about it that gives us courage to move through difficult situations to achieve our goals.


Quote

* Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. - President Calvin Coolidge



*** Photo by Victor Bezrukov @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Destress: 3 Great Encouragement Quotes

*** Learn new coping strategies from others who have experienced adversity.





From Denny: Have you ever taken note that some of the best quotes for encouraging us to take heart when faced with tough times always come from people who have experienced long term adversity? President Abraham Lincoln, president during the Civil War years and assassinated, knew adversity even before he came into office. He ran in 69 political races and finally won.

He was president over a bitterly divided country at war against itself far worse than we see now. Unbelievable but true. Lincoln also experienced the deep sorrow of losing a young son to illness while in the White House. The First Lady went into such grief that she never came out of mourning. All this going on inside his family while he still had a country to calm down and quit killing themselves.

To handle long term stress it helps to catch your balance by devising coping skills you can use on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. That can involve the little things that bring you joy and lift your spirits. It could be something as simple as cooking a favorite meal, trying out a new recipe, getting in the car and traveling some remote country road to take photos of whatever you happen to come upon. For some it could be playing a favorite sport like pick-up basketball every week at a regularly scheduled time, going to your kid's soccer games or joining an interest group where you can share what you are doing and be inspired by what other members are creating.

It also helps to create a long term strategy to help you through months and years of rebuilding your life. That involves systematically getting your head in the game with a life philosophy that helps create a strong mindset. We need the strong pivot point of a belief so we can securely plant our feet into that foundation to help us live practically day to day. Those thoughts keep us hopeful and positive. When times look grim we can refocus our thoughts upon our core beliefs to help settle our emotions and get through the day. In a long term strategy - to deal successfully with stress - it's all about getting through the moment, getting through the day to live another day. Each day adds up creating the moments of your life.

Eventually, Life improves and the worries fade away over time. It's the transition that can be difficult if you don't have a good plan. A good plan involves constantly filling yourself with positive thoughts while you deal with each day. Keeping your attitude balanced and positive is 90 percent of the battle. When you are in a good mood it helps you to see what steps to take next to resolve issues as you go through the process.

Most long term stressful situations require a series of steps involving problem-solving strategies. Just when you handle one problem it seems yet another arises. That's when you focus upon your successes. Take a good look at each problem and your success to see clearly the pattern of the journey of where the universe is guiding you. You will be amazed.


Quote

* It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." - President Abraham Lincoln

* When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place. - Anonymous

* Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can. - Anonymous



*** SEE ALSO: Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?

*** SEE ALSO: Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times

*** See Also: How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

*** See Also: Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

*** See Also: Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

*** See Also: Does Hope Touch Your Soul?



*** Photo by Victor Bezrukov @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?

*** Encouragement Quote From famous Award Winning Novelist





From Denny: Right now the Gulf Coast and even the rest of America needs to read some refreshing and mindful encouragement quotes to help us keep going. So much seems to be coming at us through this chaotic economy, severe job loss and underemployment causing bankruptcies and home foreclosures - and now the huge Gulf oil spill from BP who still has not found a way to slow down or stop the broken well leaks. There are over 100 million gallons of oil spilled and more arriving every day to the tune of two million gallons a day. It's an environmental disaster that has everyone in America talking and wondering about how to move ourselves to less harmful forms of energy.

Current times feel dire to million of Americans and millions more around the world as we all go through some universal adjustment of attitude and lifestyle changes. Meanwhile, it helps to focus upon wise thoughts and comforting thoughts to help us through the transition.

I thought I'd start with this quote from famous author James A. Michener. He had a lot of adversity in his life and well understood the difficulties of maintaining a good attitude and continuing to persevere. He was abandoned by his birth parents and was adopted by a woman of few means yet she had a love of books and learning with which she ignited a passion in him to write. Michener went on to work his way across America and later joined the Navy where he traveled to the South Pacific. With all his financial success he never did find out who were his birth parents.

Michener well understood how we slowly build our character into towering strength, how we pursue our dreams and how we finally succeed at achieving the kind of life we always desired. His quote here addresses mental toughness that can only be forged through trial and error on our part.


Quote

* Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries. - James A. Michener, award winning novelist, click on link to see his bio as he had a very interesting life.



*** SEE ALSO: Destress: 3 Great Encouragement Quotes

*** SEE ALSO: Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times

*** See Also: How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

*** See Also: Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

*** See Also: Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

*** See Also: Does Hope Touch Your Soul?



*** Photo by Victor Bezrukov @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times

*** A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.





From Denny: With all the political and economic chaos going on in the world - and violent weather - it's important to remember to listen to Hope. It's easy to get jaded as you fight injustice or misfortune.

These trying circumstances that plague humanity often hit hardest when we are not paying attention - or outright refuse - to grow spiritually. We were not sent into this physical life just to pay the bills, have families to populate the Earth and die.

This is a testing ground to produce spiritual awareness of what is greater than our individual selves. It can be easier when you volunteer by choosing to challenge yourself daily, sometimes hourly, to grow.

When we reject spiritual growth that's when Karma (the Law of Cause and Effect) hammers us. Don't let challenges back up until it explodes onto your life in a chaotic mess just to get your attention. Take charge right now by listening to the small quiet voice of Hope that is there to guide you on your way to success.






Hope Transforms

Hope lightly touches our souls,
Gently glides in through the mists of
Troubled minds and chaotic lives and
Quietly strokes our faces to engage.





Awareness soars, promises glisten.
We greet the new companion Hope
Who lingers and comforts a while
Constant faithful friend through crisis





Hope arises from the silence, those
Darkest moments plaguing our lives.
Hope illuminates the despair and
Lifts up our hearts to believe again.





Life crowds us with demanding pressures
Like clanging alarms wake, startling us to grow.
Hope drives us to a greater destination,
Toward fully conscious, awake and Presence.





Hope gives us the Dream then transforms,
Sings our courage, never overwhelmed.
Hope seeks, summons the growing Light.
Conduit of change, quiet Power, Hope dwells within.







Denny Lyon
Copyright 11 June 2010
All Rights Reserved


*** See Also: How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

*** See Also: Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

*** See Also: Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

*** See Also: Does Hope Touch Your Soul?

*** See Also: Destress: 3 Great Encouragement Quotes

*** See Also: Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?



Photo Credits

Hope under an umbrella photo by Atilla1000 @ flickr

Fenced Hope photo by mattwi1s0n @ flickr

Rays of Hope photo by green umbrella @ flickr

Feather on the shore by patnz @ flickr

Single white feather floating photo by treehouse1977 @ flickr

Feather glistening in the snow photo by Doug and Kim @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big
shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 13 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr




The Social Poets:



Louisiana to NY Mayor Bloomberg: Shut the F Up! - BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 12 June 2010

Hope Transforms poem - Libations Friday 11 June 2010 - A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.

BP Promotes Philosophy: The Minimum Acceptable

Roundup of Late Night Comedy - 7 June 2010

Funny Videos: Stewart and Colbert Lampoon Reporter Helen Thomas

Funny Video: Lampooning Racists Gone Wild Horrified Teaching Chinese Language

Funny Video: Jon Stewart Lampoons Glenn Beck About Exclusive Israeli Raid News



The Soul Calendar:


Effective Cheap Idea to Clean Up Oil Spill: Treated Cotton Fabric




Dennys Global Politics:


American and World Politics Cartoons - 12 June 2010

Speaker Pelosi, Residents Fire Upon BP - News Headlines 11 June 2010

Krewe of Dead Pelicans BP Protest Parade, Oil Spill Stories - News Headlines 8 June 2010



Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

Does Hope Touch Your Soul?




Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


Jazz Music - Get lost in the moment living a New Orleans night...

Angels Left Behind: Orphans of the World - Poem about remembering the children of the world need our help.

Water of Life - Have you ever wondered the messages Nature speaks to us every day, happening every minute all around us? Great Nature photos.

Peace Upon The Land - A Memorial Day poem to honor ourselves.




The Healing Waters:


Oldest Living Woman in World Now in Indonesia

12 Hidden Reasons 4 Fatigue and How to Fight Fatigue

Anti-Aging Summer Drinks From CBS and Health Magazine




Dennys Funny Quotes:


Ouch: Reporter Helen Thomas Career Ender Comments Cartoons

Funny Video: Upright Citizens Brigade Mocks BP Execs

Funny Video: Colbert Mocks Birthers Using Obama Rap Video Sighting

Funny Dance Video: Butt Face Slam From Brazil




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Obamas Kick Ass Comments Cartoons

Funny Video: BP Creates Rich Fish in Gulf Oil Spill

Funny: Actresses Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johannson Kiss at MTV Movie Awards - How a photo can look like more than it is.




Comfort Food From Louisiana:


New Orleans Food: G.Gs Stuffed Crab




Romancing The Chocolate:


Popular Kentucky Derby Recipes: Bourbon Ball French Toast, Kentucky Hot Brown



Visual Insights:

Dennys Photo Gallery: Wonderful Father Photos



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

*** Views Today: 16,700 and Thank You!

*** The pressure of Life tests can act like an alarm clock awakening us to act.





From Denny: Sometimes, we can feel like Life is raining on our parade. The goal is to keep looking ahead for the light to guide us - or in funnier terms, "Look for the exit sign!" - especially when you are in a tough life test that feels like you are trapped in a maze. Life puts pressures on us all. It's that uncomfortable pressure that gives voice to the fact we need to move on from where we are because we are not growing. Those pressures act like a loud alarm clock to startle us fully awake to act.

The beauty of this quote is that it addresses being fully conscious, fully present, fully awake. These are the hallmarks of having achieved a deeper level of spiritual development: when you are aware every moment. The entire process of true spiritual development is our everyday conscious mind merging gracefully with our eternal spiritual mind, working in harmony each day.

Hope is a friend. Hope is a vehicle to take us to that greater state of development. Hope delivers us from only a dream into a beautiful reality worth staying awake to enjoy.


Quote

* For Hope is but the dream of those that wake. - Matthew Prior


*** See Also: Hope Transforms poem - Libations Friday 11 June 2010 - A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.

*** See Also: Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

*** See Also: Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

*** See Also: Does Hope Touch Your Soul?


Photo by Attila1000 @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

*** Views today: 7, 899 and Thank You!

*** Read an insightful quote about Hope that will put to rest all the naysayers against the practice of Hope as useful.





From Denny: Contemplation of one good thought like this quote can be illuminating. Did you ever consider the power of Hope from another angle other than to lift up our hearts from despair? Did you ever consider the power of Hope in another way other than to help give us the energy to struggle on? What's great about this quote is it's wisdom of how the Universe employs Hope to lead us on our spiritual path to our greatest achievements! It's like the old paraphrased adage: If you don't open the door, you can't walk into the room.


Quote

* If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes. - St. Clement of Alexandra


*** See Also: Hope Transforms poem - Libations Friday 11 June 2010 - A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.

*** See Also: How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

*** See Also: Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

*** See Also: Does Hope Touch Your Soul?


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

*** Views Today: 9,552 and Thank You!

*** Hope begins before we are born. Read baby Samuel's story.





From Denny: Hope begins in the silence of the darkest moment in our lives. Just like a small candle can suddenly illuminate a dark room, so too can Hope lift up our hearts to believe again after disappointment or failure.

The Beauty that shines from Hope is its courage to sing when we are overwhelmed by the dark, summoning the light, growing the light, causing us to become the light. Hope is a quiet Power found within all of us.


Quote

* Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark. - Anonymous



Quoted from the photographer Faithful Chant on her flickr page:

A picture began circulating in November. It should be 'The Picture of the Year,' or perhaps, 'Picture of the Decade.' It won't be. In fact,unless you obtained a copy of the U S paper which published it, you probably would never have seen it.

The picture is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by surgeon named Joseph Bruner.

The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta . She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.

During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. As Dr. Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr. Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile.

The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the picture, 'Hand of Hope.' The text explaining the picture begins, 'The tiny hand of 21-week- old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life.'

Little Samuel's mother said they 'wept for days' when they saw the picture. She said, 'The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness; it's about a little person.' Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful.

Pass it on. The world needs to see this one!


*** See Also: Hope Transforms poem - Libations Friday 11 June 2010 - A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.

*** See Also: How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

*** See Also: Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

*** See Also: Does Hope Touch Your Soul?


Photo by Faithful Chant @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Does Hope Touch Your Soul?

*** Views Today: 13,385 and Thank You!

*** A quote about Hope from poet Emily Dickinson.





From Denny: Leave it to a life long sensitive and spiritual poetess to create such an elegant line about Hope. Emily Dickinson was a severe introvert who explored her inner world like an extreme sport adventurer. She had little interest in her outer world, shunning it. Emily had few contacts with people outside her tight knit family and she preferred it that way. She lived a lot like a monk, contemplating God and the meaning of Life.

What I like about this particular quote is it elegantly describes - with stunning accuracy - how Hope lightly touches our souls. It's as if Hope gently glides in through the mists of our troubled minds and chaotic lives, quietly stroking our faces to engage. Then, once the glimmer of awareness peeks out to greet it, Hope settles in to be our silent constant companion to get us through the crisis.


Quote

* Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul. - Emily Dickinson





Here is the actual poem: Emily Dickinson (1830–86). Complete Poems. 1924.

Part One: Life

XXXII


HOPE is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.



You might also enjoy reading a short bio about this poetes and take a look online at the museum dedicated to her:


*** See Also: Emily Dickenson biography at Poets.org

*** See Also: Emily Dickinson Museum (in Amherst, Massachusetts)


*** See Also: Hope Transforms poem - Libations Friday 11 June 2010 - A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.

*** See Also: How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

*** See Also: Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

*** See Also: Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 5 June 2010

*** Views Today: 14,654 and Thank You!

*** Check it out from the funny to the serious like lots of funny posts with funny ideos, BP oil spill news, political commentary, political cartoons, recipes, poetry, health news.




Photo of coffee from Brazil by Quoquo @ flickr



From Denny: This was a light week for writing as I spent so much time watching a lot of BP oil spill news from everywhere trying to catch details of what was filtered out of the mainstream copycat media. This is a shifting situation minute by minute as BP tries to twist the truth and manipulate the media to report their lies. It's like a giant shell game from a multinational corporation grifter.

Those of us living in Louisiana and others on the Gulf Coast are committed to holding our government AND most especially BP's mean little toes to the hot coals until they comply fully. The philosophy of "The Minimum Acceptable" from Big Business arrogance and cavalier handling of an environmental and economic disaster is unacceptable in America. If this was happening to the British shores I would be just as outraged and pushing back just as hard.




The Social Poets:


Cartoons: Obama vs. BPs Oil Spill - 5 June 2010

Water of Life poem - Libations Friday 4 June 2010

BP Phony Police: Threaten Reporters With Arrest If Report, Photo Dead Animals

BP Oil Spill News Updates - 2 June 2010

Funny Late Night Comedy Roundup - 31 May 2010

Funny Video: Colberts ThreatDown of Food Police, Jazz Robots, Pretty Girls

Funny Video: Colbert Mocks Surburban Backyard Clothesline Terrorist

Funny Video: Colbert Gives Domino Pizza Alpha Dog Award

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 30 May 2010






Dennys Global Politics:


World Idiots: Israel Gaza Raid Mess, North Korea Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Why Not to Nuke the Oil Spill, Israels International Mess - News Headlines 2 June 2010








Dennys Funny Quotes:


Cartoons: Staycation, New Summer Trend 4 Middle Class - 5 June 2010

Help Create Funny Caption 4 Michelle Obama Photo at Comedy Central


Funny Video: Science-Gate by Cartoonist Mark Fiore

Funny Video: Colbert Instructs How to Ace Your ACTs





Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Tea Party Weird and Immigration Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Funny Video: Zeek the Dog Plays Piano and Sings





Dennys Blog Feeds:


Funny Fathers Day Cartoons - 5 June 2010




The Healing Waters:


Cartoons: Global Warming Al Gores Surpise Divorce - 5 June 2010

Michelle Obama Fighting Obesity: Chefs Moves to Schools Program

50 Simple Steps: Burn Some Excess Calories




Visual Insights:


Funny Summer Heatwave Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Just Plain Funny: Silly Animal Photos




Romancing The Chocolate:


Yummy Lemon Tea Bread From Southern Living


Unusual 2 Tasty:


New Popular Drink Trend: Sex and The City 2 Cocktails



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
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